New Delhi
The Delhi High Court warned against a potentially disastrous scenario if every sadhu, baba, or guru were allowed to build their own shrine or samadhi sthal on public land for personal gain. Justice Dharmesh Sharma highlightedthat this would harm the larger public interest. He pointed out that naga sadhus, who devote themselves to Lord Shiva, traditionally lead lives detached from worldly affairs, making property rights contradictory to their beliefs.
The court’s remarks came while rejecting a petition from Mahant Naga Baba Shankar Giri and his successor. They sought the demarcation of a shrine’s property at Triveni Ghat, Nigambodh Ghat, claiming possession since before 2006. The petitioner argued against the demolition of nearby structures by the Delhi government in 2023.
However, the court dismissed the petition, asserting the petitioner’s lack of legal right, title, or interest in the property. The construction lacked historical or public significance, being primarily for personal use. The court deemed the petitioner a trespasser and highlighted that mere cultivation history didn’t grant him legal claim over the land.
