Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: The Jharkhand High Court on Monday heard a contempt petition filed by Sanjeev Kumar Singh over the revival of the Rajrappa temple in Ramgarh, directing the Tourism Secretary to file an affidavit stating what further action has been taken on the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared for the project and from which head the funds will come.
Officials Appear, Next Hearing on October 13
Following the court’s earlier order, the Ramgarh DC and the Tourism Department Secretary appeared before the bench. The Tourism Secretary told the court that the budget required for the temple’s revival is large, so the file has been sent to the departmental minister. The court then exempted both officers from personal appearance and asked them to assist it through video conferencing at the next hearing, fixed for October 13. The matter was heard by a division bench headed by Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad, with advocate Bharat Kumar appearing for the petitioner. A DPR worth Rs 102 crore has been prepared for the temple’s revival.
Background of the Case
At an earlier hearing, the court had noted that an order was passed in a 2023 public interest litigation concerning the beautification of the Maa Chhinnamasta temple complex. It observed that several people have died at the Bhairavi river bank near the temple due to the lack of safety arrangements, making compliance with the court’s order necessary to ensure safety and better facilities for visitors.
Contempt Plea Seeks Compliance with August 2023 Order
The petitioner, Sanjeev Kumar Singh, has sought enforcement of the High Court’s order of August 11, 2023, in which the court had issued 10 mandatory directions to the Jharkhand government, the Tourism Department, the Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation and the Ramgarh district administration. These include beautification of the temple complex, construction of permanent bathing ghats, changing rooms, toilets, drinking water, lighting and medical facilities, removal of encroachments and widening of the river.
