Religious endowment and share of pujari in temple offerings
Querist :
Anonymous
(Querist) 27 July 2024
This query is : Resolved
My grandfather was mohtamim of a temple in 1972. After his death my father was appointed as a mohtamim by DC Kangra in 1983. Accordingly, my father managed the temple affairs and performed puja exclusively till 1997.
In 1997, HP Govt. takeover the control of the temple and formed a committee under the chairmanship of SDM to manage the temple.
Being an exclusive pujari and mohtamim of the temple, the Committe assigned 12 months puja and 20% share in the offerings of the temple to my father.
In 2013, SDM made an adverse decision and divided puja and share among 4 brothers of my father stating it the matter of inheritance.
Whereas my grandfather has made a will and bequeathed puja rights exclusively in favour of my father.
1. Whether puja right is a matter of inheritance?
2. Share in offerings which started first time in 1997 is partible among 4 brothers of my father ? whereas my father has performed puja exclusively since 1983 to 2013.
Please advise me
T. Kalaiselvan, Advocate
(Expert) 27 July 2024
The puja rights to a family has devolved by generations and if there is a dispute among the subsequent generation heirs hen the court will decide about it.
If you are aggrieved by this decision then you can file a writ petition seeking redressal of your grievances and look for remedy and relief.
P. Venu
(Expert) 27 July 2024
There could be meaningful suggestion unless the connected documents are perused and issues discussed.
Querist :
Anonymous
(Querist) 06 August 2024
Sir, my father is the exclusive pujari and mohtamim of the temple, appointed by the Deputy Commissioner. Can they be deprived of their exclusive right to perform seva and puja throughout the year?
Querist :
Anonymous
(Querist) 06 August 2024
Sir, my father is the exclusive pujari and mohtamim of the temple, appointed by the Deputy Commissioner. Can they be deprived of their exclusive right to perform seva and puja throughout the year?
Sudhir Kumar, Advocate
(Expert) 10 August 2024
You are right that your father had a will in his favour and was mohatamim of temple. and also that he was doing so of about 3/4 of a century.
But I repeat
Got to Shimla and meet lawyer with papers .
Querist :
Anonymous
(Querist) 25 August 2024
I met with a lawyer at Shimla, who advised me that the matter relates to inheritance and my uncles are co-sharer in the puja rights and offerings. I apprised the lawyer that my uncles have been inducted after 30 years as pujari.
The lawyer advised they can be inducted at any stage.
My query still remained unanswered, as my father have been exclusive mohatamim and pujari of the temple since 1980 to 2013.
Despite the fact, my father has no remedy and has he lost all his rights merely by the order of the SDM dated 02.11.2013?
And the puja which has been performed exclusively by my father for the past 30 years has been inherited by his brothers?
P. Venu
(Expert) 26 August 2024
In the first place, how your father your father has acquired the rights? Or in other words, how he came to be appointed as the Pujari? Has it been a inherited? If so, what is the norm regulating the such appointment? Is it based or sanad or similar documents or is it, just a matter of custom?
How is the temple managed?
How has the SDM got the jurisdiction to appoint the pujari?
Querist :
Anonymous
(Querist) 26 August 2024
Sir, my father was assisting his predecessor mohatmims in seva puja since attaining the adolescence and used to perform puja during the life time of his father (the then Mohatmim). After the demise of his father in 1980, he worked as the exclusive pujari and being the eldest son, he was appointed as Mohatmim by the Deputy Commissioner.
My father performed puja exclusively, continuously and uninterruptedly till 31.07.1997, the day the temple was taken over by the government.
The government / the then SDM acknowledged my father's rights and gave him exclusive puja rights in the temple for the whole year and 20% share in the offerings of the temple in lieu of performing puja.
In Nov., 2013, the then SDM passed an order that all brothers of my father were co-pujari and distributed the puja rights among them. My father has been confined to perform puja only for 3 months in the temple instead of 12 months.
