Uttarakhand High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of alleged mismanagement at the revered Kainchi Dham Temple in Nainital district, registering a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to examine concerns related to administrative transparency, financial accountability, and unregulated construction. The move comes amid growing scrutiny over the management of the temple, which attracts lakhs of devotees annually and holds significant spiritual and cultural importance.
A division bench comprising Manoj Kumar Gupta and Subhash Upadhyay heard the matter on Wednesday after receiving a letter petition from Thakur Singh Dasila, a resident of Pithoragarh district. The petition raised multiple issues regarding the functioning and oversight of the shrine located in the Bhowali area of Nainital.
Court Registers Suo Motu PIL
During the hearing, Chief Standing Counsel for the state, CS Rawat, submitted instructions received from the District Magistrate of Nainital. The court order recorded that a communication from the secretary and member trustee of the Shri Kainchi Hanuman Mandir and Ashram denied the allegations outlined in the letter petition, terming them false.
To ensure a fair and comprehensive hearing, the bench allowed the impleadment of the Shri Kainchi Hanuman Mandir Trust as a respondent in the case. The court also issued formal notice to petitioner Dasila and appointed advocate Dharmendra Barthwal as amicus curiae to assist in the proceedings.
The High Court directed that necessary instructions be obtained from the Nainital District Magistrate to facilitate further judicial review. The matter has been scheduled for the next hearing on March 18.
Allegations of Financial Opacity and Unregulated Construction
According to submissions made in court, Dasila’s letter highlighted concerns including alleged uncontrolled construction in and around the temple premises, lack of transparency in financial dealings, and disorganized management arrangements at the shrine.
He also raised questions regarding mounting pressure on local infrastructure due to the increasing number of visitors to the temple. The petition claims that critical information about the trust managing the shrine such as its official name, registration details, office address, number of trustees, and appointment procedures is not readily accessible through administrative channels or the registrar’s office.
The letter further alleged that the temple receives donations amounting to crores of rupees annually, but income and expenditure statements are not made publicly available. Given the significant number of foreign devotees visiting the ashram, the petitioner also sought greater transparency regarding foreign contributions, cash donations, and the publication of audit reports.
Spiritual Significance of Kainchi Dham
Kainchi Dham was founded on June 15, 1964, by Neem Karoli Baba, popularly known as Maharaj ji, along the banks of the Shipra River. A devoted follower of Lord Hanuman, Neem Karoli Baba’s spiritual legacy continues to draw devotees from across India and abroad.
The outcome of the PIL could have significant implications for the governance and transparency standards of prominent religious institutions in Uttarakhand.