Institute of Legal and Management Studies

The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition seeking directions for the reconstruction of a dilapidated 7 feet tall Vishnu Idol at the Javari Temple in Khajuraho Temple Series, Madhya Pradesh.

The bench of CJI BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing the matter.

Refusing to entertain the matter, the CJI at the outset termed the petition to be a 'Publicity Interest Litigation'. He said : "This is purely publicity interest litigation…. Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying that you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then you pray and do some meditation."

The counsel for the petitioner, referring to the photograph of the idol, stressed that the head of Lord Vishnu's idol was dilapidated and required reconstruction.

The CJI also pointed out that the Khajurao Temple is under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India.

"It's an archaeological find, whether the ASI would permit such a thing to be done or not... there are various issues. In the meantime, if you are not averse to Shaivism, you can go and worship there - there is a very big linga of Shiva, one of the biggest in Khajuraho."

The bench dismissed the petition.

The petitioner had sought the relief for directions for " replacement/ reconstruction/ rejuvenation of the idol of the Lord Vishnu and install/ consecrate the same at the Javeri temple, Khajuraho, Chhatarpur District, Madhya Pradesh in place of the headless 7-foot-long Idol of Lord Vishnu"

The plea states that several representations were made to the Union Home Minister as well as the ASI. The petition mentions the response it received from the Superintending Archaeologist that "the responsibility of conservation of the Khajuraho temples lies with the Archaeological Survey of India. It further emphasised that the replacement of the 7-foot long beheaded idol of Lord Vishnu with a new complete one in the Javari temple of the Khajuraho series of temples was against the conservation rules, while the issue related to tourist city or religious city was not related to the Archaeological Survey of India".

The petition was filed with the assistance of AOR Sanjay Nuli and Advocate Akhila Wali.

Case Details : RAKESH DALAL Versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.| Diary No. 32820-2025