High court dismisses PIL against ‘sugam darshan’ in KV temple

PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition challenging the ‘sugam darshan’ system in Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Varanasi.

Dismissing the PIL filed by one Gajendra Singh Yadav, a division bench comprising justices Manoj Misra and Sameer Jain observed, “Having considered the rival submissions and having noticed the statutory provisions, we are of the view that once the Board of Trustees are vested with the power to fix fees for the performance of any worship, service, rituals, ceremony or religious observance in the temple and in exercise of such power, they take a decision to provide a facility of ‘sugam darshan’ for those who, on account of their disability, be it physical or otherwise, cannot wait in a queue and, while taking such decision, they do not exclude the common class from exercising their right of worship as per religious practices. In our view, the decision of the board doesn’t fall within ambit of judicial review.”

The petitioner had filed the present PIL with regard to the decision of the Board of Trustees to have a system of ‘sugam darshan’ (easy holy glimpse), which, according to the petitioner, violates the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 14 (right to equality), 15 (Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth) 25 (Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion) and 26 (Freedom to manage religious affairs) of the Constitution of India.