AUTHORITIES MUST BE SECULAR WITH WORK: HC

MUMBAI: The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court (HC) observed that government authorities including police are expected to work with a secular mind and avoid a general fear of inviting trouble if the case involves religious feelings. The court also directed the police to register offence against trustees of Jagadamba Devi Charitable Trust, Mohota in Ahmednagar for illegal acts that fall under the Black Magic Act.

The trustees had allegedly buried around two kilograms of gold in the name of Suvarna Yantras since 2011 and had also misappropriated at least ₹25 lakh for performing related ceremonies.

On February 3, a division bench of justice TV Nalawade and justice MG Sewlikar while hearing a petition filed by social activist and former trustee Namdev Sahebrao Garad, 52, was informed by advocate AS Kale that the petition sought registration of a first information report (FIR) against persons on the trust for alleged misappropriation of precious metals and funds under the garb of performing religious rituals.

Senior counsel Rajendra Deshmukh for the temple trust, however, refuted the claims and said these were false allegations against the management.

After hearing the submissions, the court held that the activities of the trustees certainly fell under the prohibited acts under the Black Magic Act.

Suggesting that the authority needed to have a scientific approach in such matters and adhere to the provisions of law, the court said the authority could not accept religious propositions like the one made in the present matter.