The Delhi High Court recently ruled that Naga sadhus are ordained to live a life of complete detachment, and seeking property rights in their names does not conform to their beliefs and practices.
The court made the aforesaid observation while rejecting a plea seeking demarcation of a property in the name of the shrine of a Naga sadhu.
Justice Dharmesh Sharma observed that making no attempt to write a thesis on the way of life of Naga sadhus, as the court understand in the Hindu religion, Naga sadhus are devotees of Lord Shiva and they are ordained to live a life of complete detachment from the worldly affairs, and therefore, seeking property rights in their names does not conform with their beliefs and practices.
The High Court added that there are thousands of sadhus, babas, fakirs, and gurus in different parts of the landscape, and if every one of them is allowed to build a shrine or samadhi sthal on public land, it will have disastrous consequences.
The Court was dealing with a plea filed by Avinash Giri, the successor of Mahant Shri Naga Baba Bhola Giri. The plea sought direction to the local administration to demarcate the land situated at Ghat No 33, Triveni Ghat, Nigambodh Ghat, Jamuna Bazar in the name of the petitioner as the same has been in their possession since the year 1996.
Earlier on February 22, 2023, the Court was informed that the officials of the Flood Control and Irrigation Department of the Delhi government demolished various jhuggies and other buildings in the vicinity of the property in question and now there was an imminent threat of demolition of the Shrine of Naga Baba Bhola Giri.
Considering the above submission, Justice Sharma held that the petitioner is a rank trespasser and the property in question was meant for larger public interest like the rejuvenation of the Yamuna river.
The court further noted that it appears that the petitioner has constructed two rooms with tin shed and other amenities at the side, besides a Shrine of the revered Baba, who died in the year 1996. However, there is nothing on the record to suggest that the place is of any historical significance or dedicated to the public for worship or for offering prayers to the revered deceased Baba, the bench continued.
It underlined that as per records, there were only 32 historic ghats in the area and the petitioner has attempted to give a new twist to the story by mentioning the land where he is located as Ghat No 33. The High Court concluded that there was not even an iota of evidence to suggest that the shrine was a place of historic importance and devoted to the public at large.