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On Entry into Sanctum Sanctorum of Kalighat Temple in Kolkata

Calcutta High Court had banned the entry of devotees into the famous Sanctum Sanctorum of Kalighat Temple in Kolkata in April 2012. The temple committee has now attained a four week stay on the order from the Supreme Court.
Hindustan Times reports 
 A bench of Justice Deepak Verma and Justice SJ Mukhopadhyay, while staying the high court order, directed the West Bengal Government, the Centre and the temple committee to file their responses within four weeks. 
 The apex court, however, clarified that certain restrictions imposed by the high court on preserving the cleanliness and hygiene in and around the temple shall continue to be in force. 
 The apex court had on May 15 issued notices to the Centre and the West Bengal government on a plea for permitting devotees to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the Kolkata Kalighat temple to pay obeisance to its deity. 
 The Calcutta high court on April 20 had restricted the entry into the Kali temple and had ordered that no visitors, including VIPs, will be allowed into the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

Why did the Calcutta High Court decide to ban entry of devotees?

The HC in its order had observed: "We find there is a practice of darshan and puja which is resulting in a lot of inconvenience to the devotees and promoting certain malpractice being carried out by people identified and commonly known as pandas who are not shebaits or pujaris and not authorized by the KTC." (Times of India)


Ban or no ban, the 'panda-monium' at Kalighat temple will remain an inseparable part of the 200-year-old shrine. Monday's Supreme Court stay order didn't bring about any visible change for the pandas or the devotees, who seem to have continued with their respective practices despite the high court order. (Times of India reports.)

Net result – Ban or no ban devotees can never have a peaceful darshan of Maa Kali at Kalighat Temple in Kolkata.