Archive · 13 Dec 2025
Bombay HC Rejects Maharashtra Govt's Shani Shingnapur Trust Move
The Bombay High Court recently made a big decision about the Shani Shingnapur Temple in Maharashtra.
The court said the state government did something wrong when it appointed a local official to manage the temple.
The government had also set up a new committee to run the temple, but the court said this was not allowed by the law.
The court ordered that the old trustees should be back in charge and that the government should make proper rules before making any changes.
The court also said the government can still make new rules for the temple, but it has to follow the law.
This decision means the old trustees will manage the temple again until new rules are made.
The Bombay High Court set aside the Maharashtra government's September 22, 2025, resolution appointing the Collector of Ahilyanagar as Administrator of the Shani Shingnapur Temple Trust.
The court quashed the September 30, 2025, communication by the Collector that appointed an 11-member committee to manage the temple.
The court ordered the restoration of the previous board of trustees and directed the Collector and the committee to hand over the Trust’s properties within seven days.
The court found that the government had no power to appoint the Collector as Administrator under the Shingnapur Trust Act, 2018, and that the acts done by the Administrator and the Committee were illegal.
The court directed the state government to complete the rule-making process under the 2018 law to ensure transparent appointment of the Management Committee and financial accountability.
- Who
- Bombay High Court, Maharashtra Government, Shree Shanaishwar Devasthan Trust, Elected Trustees, Collector of Ahilyanagar
- What
- Bombay High Court set aside the government's appointment of the Collector as Administrator of the Shani Shingnapur Temple Trust and quashed the appointment of an 11-member committee
- When
- December 12, 2025
- Where
- Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court
- Why
- The court found the government's actions arbitrary and illegal under the Shingnapur Trust Act, 2018, and directed the restoration of the previous board of trustees
- Date of Court Order
- December 12, 2025
- Government Resolution Date
- September 22, 2025
- Collector's Communication Date
- September 30, 2025
- Trust Act Year
- 2018
- Committee Members
- 11
- Trustees' Term Expiry
- December 31, 2025