Suspended Badrinath Temple Employee Challenges Action In Uttarakhand High Court
Suspended worker seeks relief over temple allegations.
A suspended employee of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), accused of allegedly stealing devotees' offerings from the Badrinath shrine, has approached the Uttarakhand High Court challenging both his suspension order and the First Information Report (FIR) registered against him. The matter came up before the court, which has sought clarification from the temple committee regarding the action taken against the employee. The accused, identified as Pramod Nautiyal, moved the High Court seeking relief against the disciplinary action and criminal proceedings initiated against him.
Hearing the petition, a single bench of Justice Alok Mehra directed the BKTC to clarify its stand on the matter. The case has been listed for further hearing on July 16, when the temple committee is expected to present its response. The controversy began after the BKTC received complaints on July 2 regarding alleged financial irregularities during the counting of ‘thali bhent’ offerings at the Badrinath temple. The offerings, placed by devotees in ceremonial plates, are counted as part of the temple's donation management process.
Following the reports, BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi ordered the formation of a departmental inquiry committee to examine the allegations. According to the preliminary findings of the inquiry panel, Nautiyal allegedly removed money from the counting area during a period between 9 am and 9.30 am. Based on these initial observations, the temple committee suspended him with immediate effect pending further investigation. The allegations have not yet been proven, and the matter remains under inquiry.
Also Read: Suspended Temple Committee Employee Faces FIR In Badrinath Donation Row
Following the suspension, Badrinath temple officer-in-charge Yudhveer Pushpwan submitted a written complaint to the police. Based on the complaint, authorities registered an FIR against Nautiyal, leading to the criminal proceedings that are now being challenged before the High Court. The police investigation into the allegations is expected to continue alongside the internal inquiry conducted by the temple committee.
The issue came into public focus after Bhairav Sena founder Sandeep Khatri raised allegations of irregularities in the handling of devotees' donations. Khatri claimed he had received information suggesting that offerings made by pilgrims at the shrine were being misappropriated. The allegations triggered public concern and led to increased scrutiny over the management of temple donations. As the controversy gained political attention in Uttarakhand, the BKTC chairman constituted a four-member inquiry committee to investigate the matter.
The state government also intervened by setting up a separate three-member high-level panel to conduct an independent probe into the allegations. The move was aimed at ensuring transparency and addressing concerns raised over the handling of temple offerings. The BKTC is now required to submit its response before the Uttarakhand High Court, explaining the grounds for Nautiyal's suspension and the steps taken following the allegations. The outcome of the court proceedings and ongoing investigations will determine the further course of action in the case involving one of Uttarakhand's most prominent religious shrines.
Also Read: After Ayodhya Row, Badrinath Temple Donation Theft Claims Trigger Official Probe And Scrutiny
