Shimla: The Himalaya Brahmo Samaj, Shimla, has secured a significant legal victory as the Supreme Court ruled in their favour, barring Lalit Verma and others from interfering in their temple affairs.
At a press conference here on Monday, Trustee Mahendra Kumar expressed gratitude to the Supreme Court, calling the recent verdict a landmark judgement.
"The ruling prohibits Lalit Verma and his associates, who allegedly created a fake trust under the name of Himalayan Brahmo Samaj, as well as members of the Ramakrishna Mission and the family associated with Landmark Hotel, from any involvement in the temple’s affairs," Advocate Jyotika Sharma detailed the legal proceedings.
She highlighted that a similar order was issued by the Additional District Judge on April 4, 2015. However, despite repeated court directives, Verma and his associates, including certain saints from the Ramakrishna Mission, allegedly continued to violate these orders.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the Brahmo Samaj has urged authorities to enforce the ruling to prevent further interference. Mahendra Kumar stated that their next step is to perform worship at the Himalayan Brahmo Samaj Temple, and they have formally appealed to the President of India, the Governor, and the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh to take action. They have also requested the Chief Secretary to direct the Deputy Commissioner of Shimla to ensure strict enforcement of the court’s decision.
Despite these appeals, the government and local administration have yet to respond, leading to frustration among the Brahmo Samaj leaders. They emphasised that if the authorities fail to act, they will be compelled to launch a nationwide movement to uphold their rights.
Furthermore, they announced plans to meet with the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) to press for immediate action.
The press conference was attended by prominent members of the Brahmo Samaj, including Vishal Sharma, Trustee Harish Kumar, Secretary Anil Sood, and Advocate Jyotika Sharma. They reaffirmed their commitment to protecting their temple’s legacy and ensuring that court orders are fully implemented.
