HC scraps Bodgeshwar temple panel elections, orders fresh polls

The Bombay high court on Wednesday (4 November 2026) set aside the February 2025 elections to the managing committee of Shree Dev Bodgeshwar temple in Mapusa, ruling that 254 members were illegally included in the electoral roll. Justice S G Chapalgaonkar directed the temple administrator and the Bardez mamlatdar to hold fresh elections within three months using only the list of mahajans, excluding those 254 members.

The court held that the inclusion of the 254 members violated enrolment procedures under the temple regulations and that the election was conducted on the basis of a faulty voter list. Justice Chapalgaonkar noted that the administrator was aware of objections but allowed the election to proceed, failing to discharge his duties under Article 70. Until the newly elected committee takes charge, the administrator will continue to manage the temple's affairs.