Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Bhopal, has slapped a fine of Rs 55,000 on the Maihar Temple management committee and the company operating the ropeway for deficiency in service.

The petitioner alleged that VIPs deprived his family of darshan of the famous Sharda Mata temple in Maihar. 

The petitioner, Lalit Kumar Gupta, a resident of Arvind Vihar in Baghmugalia, Bhopal, along with his family, went to Maihar to visit the temple in 2021.

He paid Rs 650 for five tickets for the ropeway. He alleged that they could not have a darshan despite standing in line for two hours. Gupta filed a petition in 2022 against the Chairman of Maa Sharda Management Committee and the ropeway company, seeking compensation. 

Advocate Sambhavna Rajput, who appeared on behalf of the petitioner, said to Free Press, “The arrangement of VIP darshan became the basis in the case. In its decision, the Forum said that no devotee is special or VIP in any temple.

There should be a rule to give darshan of Maa Sharda by keeping everyone in the same category and making them stand in line. It is a deficiency in service if a devotee got a ticket for the ropeway, stood in the queue, and still could not have darshan after two hours, while others were given special status and were allowed.”