Chandigarh, Nov 22 (UNI) Amid a welter of complaints against the administration, management and governance of the Shri Mata Chandi Devi Temple, Panchkula, by the current group of pujaris, the Haryana government on Wednesday decided to take over the management of the historical temple which is linked to the mythical Pandavas.
The management of this temple would be administered under Article 2 (h) of the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Act, 1991, the state Cabinet decided after a meeting here, presided over by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

The decision was taken after complaints against the current group of pujaris, who acquired the temple after the death of a former seer who had executed a will in favour of Surat Giri and his successors.

They complained that sufficient offerings were made in cash and kind in this temple by devotees, but very little was spent on the upkeep of the shrine.
On the basis of the complaints, even an FIR was registered. The Khair trees were also being sold without any authority of law and were being cut in contravention of the instructions of the government.
It was observed from the perusal of the file that according to earlier Jamabandi (settlement) for 1936-37, this land was owned by Gram Panchayat, Chandi Mandir, and this present land was given to the temple by the Sarpanch and other Panches of the Gram Panchayat.

This temple, connected with the Pandavas and the state capital of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh, has derived its name from Chandimandir. Therefore, the administration of this temple is taken over for the purpose of its development and growth.

The Cabinet also decided to take over management of the Shri Durga Mata Mandir at Banbhori in district Hisar.

The decision was taken in view of difficulties experienced by pilgrims and devotees and due to lack of facilities. The decision also aimed at putting an end to open plunder of the temple and sale of properties under the 2017 Haryana Shri Durga Mata Mandir, Banbhori Shrine Act.

At present, the management of the temple rests in the hands of family of a Pujari due to which law and order problem and mismanagement prevails there. The temple receives offerings worth Rs 14 to 15 crore annually and the whole income remains in the hands of one Pujari.

Therefore, highly-placed officials said, it was necessary to take over the management, control and governance of the temple to save the pilferage of income and property. The temple does not maintain any record of the income and the family of the Pujari uses whole income of the shrine for their personal purposes.
UNI JS SW RP1926