Jharkhand High Court Orders Rajrappa Temple Beautification, Safety Measures

Ranchi: The Jharkhand high court on Wednesday directed state tourism secretary Mukesh Kumar and Ramgarh deputy commissioner Faiz Aq Ahmed Mumtaz to conduct a survey of the Maa Chinnamastika Temple in Rajrappa and present a beautification proposal before the bench.Justices Sujit Narayan Prasad and Sanjay Prasad were hearing a petition filed by one Sanjeev Kumar on the lapse of the govt in fulfilling earlier directions of the HC. The court fixed the next date of hearing on April 24 and ordered the officers to ensure that proper barricading is done near the Bhairavi River beside the temple. Several devotee have drowned in the river because of lack of proper safety measures, the court said.The court also queried from the govt as to whether the Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) has contributed in any manner to the development and provided facilities to devotees coming to the temple as part of corporate social responsibility schemes.The court was informed in course of arguments that several mines abandoned by the CCL after excavation of coal have been converted into water tanks and fish cultivation has been promoted.

Such water tanks also pose a threat to devotees and steps should be taken for filling up the tanks, the court ordered.The bench has ordered the chairman-cum-managing director of CCL, water resources department secretary, along with the tourism secretary, and Ramgarh deputy commissioner to be present on the next date of hearing on April 24.The petitioner, Sanjeev Kumar, had filed a contempt petition before the high court seeking implementation of certain directions given by the high court in Sept 2023 for a facelift of the temple premises in Rajrappa. The high court had earlier ordered the Ramgarh district administration and the tourism department to ensure beautification of the temple and its premises.