Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), September 17, 2012: Rejecting the Archeological Survey of India’s claim, the Madhya Pradesh High Court today gave permission to Bade Baba Digambar Jain Temple Trust for construction work in Kundalpur in Damoh district provided it should obtain permission from the state government within two months. A division bench of acting Chief Justice Sushil Harkoli and Justice Alok Aradhe pronounced the verdict after keeping it reserve following hearings from September 4 to 6.
The ASI filed a petition in 2006, requesting to stop construction of temple on the Kundalpur temple premises and hand over the idols found during construction work.
The ASI also claimed that the 12-foot-hight Lord Adinath’s idol and the temple signified archaeological importance and rights should be provided to the ASI for its preservation.
On the other hand in its counter petition, the Trust said even before and after the Independence, the temples were never under the ASI and the idols belong to the Trust. It added that the temples were not accorded the status of national heritage, on the contrary it has a religious importance.
Renowned lawyer and Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy was the counsel for the Trust while the ASI appointed Rajendra Tiwari and PC Jain as their counsels.
Hailing the verdict, Trust chairman Santosh Singhai said the Trust will ensure its future course of action in accordance with the High Court’s directives.
Kundalpur is approximately 20 miles northeast of Damoh in Madhya Pradesh. With about sixty temples built in the eighth and ninth century, Kundalpur is one of the most ancient and extensive Jain pilgrimage site in central India. Kundalpur is a Siddha Kshetra, which means, ‘Gateway to the State of Enlightenment. – News Courtesy: UNI