PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the District Magistrate to appoint a receiver to keep an account and receipts till the Navdurga jatra at Madkai is conducted. The court has also ordered for peaceful conduct of the jatra without any interference.
The Navdurga jatra of Madkai has been surrounded by a dispute between the Mahajans and the locals for last few years.
There has been a long pending dispute between the locals of Madkai and the Mahajans of the Navdurga Temple over rights of the temple festivities and rituals. The temple receives lot of donations and collections during the jatra period, which has been an issue of dispute between the locals and Mahajans of the temple.
The Mahajans of the temple had complained to the Court that there was interference and problems by locals. They had asked for police protection and also pleaded for recording of donations and collections of the temple by a government officer.
In a similar order in 2011, the Civil Court while hearing a plea of the Mahajans had restrained people from interfering in the festivities and activities of the temple. Based on this order the Mahajans had pleaded for police protection and appointment of a receiver.
Advocate General Devidas Pangam said, “The government has already appointed a Magistrate who will be there 24 hours at the jatra site. If required we will have more police force at the site to avoid any problem.”
AG Pangam hoped that after this order there will be no more law and order situations during the festivities.
