Ambaji Night Worship Should Be Open to All, Says Gujarat HC

The Gujarat High Court has questioned the policy of permitting only a select group of trusts to perform night worship at the Ambaji Temple, observing that there should be no discrimination in matters of religious practice and devotion.

Hearing a petition challenging the existing arrangement, Justice Nirzar Desai suggested that the state government ensure equal treatment for devotees and trusts seeking permission to conduct night prayers at the revered Shakti Peeth.

The court observed that religious sentiments of devotees should not be hurt while framing or implementing policies governing access to temple rituals.

Court Questions Preference Given to Select Trusts

During the hearing, the petitioners argued that permission for night worship at the Ambaji Temple was being granted only to a handful of selected trusts, while applications from others were being denied.

Questioning the rationale behind the policy, the High Court asked the state government why permission had been restricted to only nine trusts.

"If permission is granted to nine trusts for night worship at Ambaji, why should other trusts be excluded?" the court asked.

'Religious Rights Cannot Be Limited to a Few'

The court further observed that preference should not be given to only a small group of trusts if other genuine devotees and religious organisations also wish to participate in the ritual.

Justice Desai remarked that while security arrangements at the temple were important and should not be compromised, access to night worship could not be confined to a select few.

The court noted that devotees should be allowed to perform worship according to an equitable and transparent system of priority.

Government Asked to Balance Faith and Security

The High Court emphasised that any decision on the matter should strike a balance between maintaining temple security and respecting the faith and religious sentiments of devotees.

The bench also observed that denying permission to a large number of trusts while allowing only a few could lead to resentment among devotees and religious organisations.

Hearing Adjourned Till Tuesday

The matter has been adjourned till Tuesday to enable the applicant's trustees to place additional documents and records before the court.