The Allahabad High Court recently directed the Tehsildar of Tehsil Chhata, Mathura District, to appear before the court in person to explain how the ownership of Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj Mandir was changed to a graveyard in state revenue records in 2004. Justice Saurabh Srivastava passed the order on August 3 in a writ petition filed by Sri Bihari Ji Seva Trust.
The petitioner moved the court submitting that plot no 1081 situated at Shahpur Village, Tehsil Chhata, Mathura District was registered under Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj Mandir in the state revenue records originally. However, the same has been changed to a graveyard in 2004.
“It is the case of the petitioner that the plot no. 1081 situated at Village Shahpur, Tehsil Chhata, District- Mathura originally against the name of Mandir Bake Bihari Ji Maharaj and the same is apparent from the record of rights of 1375-1377F, later on the same has been changed way back in the year 2004 itself against the name of graveyard,” the court noted.
The petitioner moved the court seeking a direction to correct the record that has been illegally recorded against the graveyard in place of Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj Mandir. The petitioners argued that the plot in question has been vested with the Mandir since ancient times, however, in 2004, one Bhola Khan Pathan, in connivance with the revenue officials, registered the land as a graveyard.
“Petitioner preferred the present writ petition through which a direction in the nature of mandamus has been sought in pursuance to decide the application which has already been preferred by the petitioner for correcting the revenue entry which has been illegally recorded against the graveyard in place of Mandir Bake Bihari Ji Maharaj,” the court noted.
On getting the information, the Mandir Trust filed an objection and the same went before the Waqf Board. A seven-member team investigated and found out that the graveyard was wrongly registered. The petitioner submits that despite this the name of Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj Mandir was not registered on the land.
Meanwhile, the Standing Counsel submitted that another application is pending before the court for recording the name of the graveyard as the entries have been changed from graveyard to purani abadi.
The court has directed the Tehsildar to appear before the court in person on the date of the next hearing, August 17. “In view of the aforementioned facts and circumstances, respondent no. 3 is hereby directed to appear in person for explaining the proceedings whatsoever has been carried out by the Revenue Authorities from time to time for changing the entries available over plot no. 1081 situated at Village Shahpur, Tehsil Chhata, District- Mathura,” the court directed.
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