The Delhi High Court has mandated that any jagran or religious event held within the premises of Kalkaji Mandir in the city must obtain prior permission from the court-appointed administrator. This administrator has been granted complete authority and management control over the temple by the court.

Justice Prathiba M. Singh acknowledged a recent tragedy where numerous individuals were injured and a woman lost her life as a platform collapsed during a jagran held at the temple on January 27th.

The jagran event was arranged by two individuals identified as members of the Sevadar Mitr Mandal organization. Singer B Praak was also invited to perform at the event. Expressing dissatisfaction with the "unfortunate incident," the court remarked that the complete management, control, and administration of the temple must solely remain under the supervision of the Administrator and should not be under the control of any other individual, group, or entity.

“From the above, it is clear that the Mahant's position is that he is not authorized to take administrative decisions or to give any permission to organizers for holding any program in the premises. The premises of the Kalkaji Mandir is for the use by the public and no individual or entity can exercise exclusive control over any part of the said premises,” the court said.

Additionally, the court emphasized that since the Administrator has been appointed and vested with complete management and control of the temple, any event planned within its premises would necessitate prior permission from the Administrator.

Furthermore, the court directed the Administrator to implement crowd management measures at the Mandir premises. Justice Singh emphasized that the entire temple should be utilized for the well-being of the devotees, and redevelopment work is crucial for ensuring their safety, welfare, and security.  "Accordingly, the hall, which is currently unused as per the Administrator's report, should be designated as the office for redevelopment," the court stated.

The court was handling a collection of petitions regarding the redevelopment of the temple premises. It had previously determined that the occupants of the dharamshalas and the pujaris cannot assert a vested right to continue staying on the temple premises.

The court had also instructed the Delhi Police to take action to evict unauthorized occupants residing in makeshift settlements (jhuggis) and guesthouses (dharamshalas) within the temple premises. Subsequently, the Supreme Court declined to intervene in the petition challenging the eviction of these unauthorized occupants from the jhuggis and dharamshalas.

Previously, the Court had issued a series of directives concerning the administration and upkeep of the temple, as well as for the resolution of disputes related to bari rights among baridaars, with the aim of ensuring the seamless operation of the temple.

 Case Title: NEETA BHARDWAJ & ORS. v. KAMLESH SHARMA