Calcutta HC clears hurdles for Kalighat renovation

Kolkata, Sep 15 (UNI) In a landmark judgement, the Calcutta High Court today cleared the hurdles to the much needed renovation work of the centuries old Kalighat temple, curbing the rights of the temple commmittee and the pandas.

A two-judge bench presided by V S Sirpurkar ruled that the multi- crore renovation of the shabby temple must begin by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation within the next two months.

The Rs five crore project is being funded by the Centre out of which Rs one crore has already reached the state government.

The court held that the pandas, who were alleged to play a mischievous role inside the temple, would not be allowed to enter the main temple(Garbha Griha) and it ruled that they should not accompany the devotees and arrange for their prayers before the deities.

The Chief Justice suggested a number of security measures for the entry of the devotees into the temple.

He directed the police to install metal detectors at all gates of the temple and place CCTV's in the complex to monitor the devotees as well as the pandas.

Before delivering the judgement, the court rejected an appeal filed by the pandas seeking to protect their rights as there were a number of allegations of harrassment by devotees against them.

The court also stressed on the need for a clean and healthy atmosphere in the temple.

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