Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court bench led by Chief Justice Vikram Nath today refused to entertain the petitioner over his Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against proposed transfer of Camp Hanuman mandir which is located within the Army cantonment in Shahibaug area. A petitioner subsequently withdrew the petition.

The trust body that looks after the temple has proposed transfer of mandir to Sabarmati Riverfront phase – 2 land which is yet to be developed.

The President of Can Hanuman mandir trust and senior lawyer Sudhir Nanavati told the court that the trust has in a letter to Cantonment board requested for a land at Sabarmati Riverfront where the temple can be relocated.

Nanavati said Riverfront is not a commercial place. The second phase of Riverfront will have provision of certain parcel of portion of land for Cantonment. We have requested some land for temple as well as the idol there.

He said security of the activity of the Cantonment is a concern with the Defence as so many people come to Mandir, especially on Saturday.

Secondly, he said this is a lease-owned land for which we need to pay certain lease amount which is not problem but every twenty years we have to go for renewal. Cantonment board is in Pune and there are many practical difficulties in getting lease renew.

He continued and said there’s parking problem. Everyone who must have gone to the airport particularly on Saturdays, must have phased traffic problem right from Judges bungalow to airport. To avoid these all problem we have requested Cantonment board for permission.

Nanavati said there’s a type of system associated with Hanuman idol. On birthday of Hanuman’s father, where idol itself travel from cantonment upto the Sarkhej area which is ten kms. One of the Trustees who is representing Pujari family is also signatory for transfer. Some other members of Pujari family have objected transfer from Cantonment.

Opposing the proposed shifting of the temple, lawyer Amit Panchal said it is Swayambhu idol which can’t be shifted. He questioned shifting of temple to “commercial place.”

The Government pleader told the court that the petition is pre-mature as no decision has been taken as of now and the Trust has only written a letter to Cantonment.

At Almighty is always with you either at riverfront or at camp, Justice Biren Vaishnav told lawyer Amit Panchal.

Does Hanumanji stay in your heart? The Chief Justice asked Panchal.

The Chief Justice said he himself visited Camp Hanuman mandir. He said, ‘I have no objection saying even I have visited Camp Hanuman ji and I am told this temple is most powerful temple here in Ahmedabad of Hanumanji. I am also Hanuman bhakt’.

DeshGujarat