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Synopsis

The Madhya Pradesh High Court Bar Association has escalated its opposition to the removal of a Hanuman temple from the official residence of High Court Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait by filing an official complaint. The complaint, addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, and the Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, the Bar Association has called for an inquiry into the matter and action against those responsible.

The complaint, mentioned: “Hon'ble Justice Shri Suresh Kumar Kait, has got demolished the old temple which was in the compound of his official residence,” seeking an enquiry into the alleged destruction of the Hindu Temple. The Bar Association also highlighted that previous Muslim Chief Justices of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, including Justices Rafat Alam and Rafiq Ahmed, had never objected to the temple’s presence. It was emphasised that the temple, considered government property, had been reconstructed periodically using public funds. “It is pertinent to mention that it is not his personal property, and he should not have done this,” the complaint stated, expressing the lack of CJ’s authority to demolish the temple.

According to the Bar Association, the temple in question was of historical significance. It stated that several former Chief Justices of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, including Justice S.A. Bobde, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, and Justice Hemant Gupta—all of whom were later elevated to the Supreme Court—had reportedly paid their respects at the temple and performed worship. The association noted that employees working at the Chief Justice’s residence also participated in religious ceremonies there.

The association contended that the temple served as a convenient and important space for religious practices, particularly for those adhering to Sanatan Dharma. “The temple’s demolition without prior government approval or the issuance of a statutory order is an insult to Sanatan Dharma believers,” the Bar Association stated, urging immediate corrective measures.

The controversy gained further traction when it was revealed that an advocate from the High Court Bar had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the removal of temples from all police stations across Madhya Pradesh, reportedly inspired by Justice Kait's actions.

With heightened apprehensions that Justice Kait might issue orders for the widespread removal of temples. The complaint seeks an inquiry into the demolition of the temple at the Chief Justice’s residence, Justice Kait’s recusal from hearing the aforementioned PIL to avoid a potential conflict of interest, the initiation of criminal proceedings against Justice Kait if the allegations are substantiated, and the consideration of transferring Justice Kait to another High Court.