High Court issues full judgment in Jain temple management dispute

The core issue is whether the High Court correctly abated the proceedings under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, when the original suit was filed under the Rajasthan Public Trust Act, 1959, seeking removal of the current management committee.

Who it concerns: Petitioners/Appellants: Legal representatives of Narain Lal (deceased) and Shri Jain Swetambar (Moortipujak) Mahaveerji Tirth Raksha Samiti. Respondents: Prabandhkarini Committee, Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra, Shree Mahaveerji. Bench: Hon'ble Mr. Justice Bipin Gupta (High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan, Bench at Jaipur).

What the court decided

• The High Court issued a full judgment on 20.02.2026.
• The case concerns S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 611/1995 and connected appeal No. 575/1995.
• The appeals challenge the trial court's order dated 27.10.1994, which abated the proceedings under Section 4 of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.
• The appellants argued that the abatement was illegal because the suit was under Section 40 of the Rajasthan Public Trust Act, 1959, and did not seek conversion of the religious character of the place of worship.
• The Supreme Court had previously directed the trial court to decide all issues under Section 40 of the 1959 Act, including the availability of relief.

Also in the document

• The judgment was reserved on 22.01.2026 and pronounced on 20.02.2026.
• The document provided is a High Court judgment, not a Supreme Court order, despite the title referencing the Supreme Court's prior involvement.
• The text provided is truncated and does not contain the final operative order or relief granted by the High Court in this specific judgment.