The election for the post of Doloi and other members of the Managing Committee of the Ugratara Temple will be held on 3rd September, 2017 after a period of 22 years as per the order of the District and Sessions Judge, Kamrup (M).
The land of Ugratara Temple, situated in the heart of the city at Latasil, is currently facing a land grabbing controversy as 16 Lechas of the temple land has been grabbed by two brothers namely, Bani Kanta Sarma and Kailash Sarma and they are utilizing the land for their personal gain.
In 1961, the temple land had been grabbed by Premoda Kanta Sarma (father of Bani and Kailash Sarma) from Sashi Kanta Sarma illegally and without any consent of the managing committee of the temple. “Premoda Kanta Sarma had constructed a house on the temple land and had given it on rent to a laundry, shop, saloon etc. The people who continue to stay on rent use the toilets of the temple premises which creates a nuisance for the pujaris,” said a member of the present committee while speaking to G Plus.
The member said that according to the Assam State Acquisition of Land Belonging to Religious or Charitable Institution of Public Nature Act, 1959 (Act IX of 1961) passed by the Assam Legislative Assembly reserved for Presidential assent, the property can be looked after by the District Magistrate. But Bani Sarma occupied the land and as he is a member of the Deuri Samaj he wants that the temple be looked after by the Samaj which the residents of Latasil and the Managing Committee oppose. “Bani Sarma wants that the temple should be looked after by the Deuri Samaj so that he and his brother can occupy the land and run the temple according to their wishes. Cases have been registered against them seven times and all the cases were in favour of the temple committee. In 1993, a Bordeuri, Surendra Nath Sarma, who visited the temple and noticed that the land in front of the temple had been encroached by the sons of Premoda Kanta Sarma (being Bani and Kailash), demanded the return of the land patta land of the temple from the district magistrate,” the member reiterated.
He also said that a case had been registered by Surendra Nath Sarma for refusing to give the patta under Assam Board of Revenue R.A- 55 (K)/93.
Particular Dates:
13.12.1995 - The court had given the responsibility to the sons of Premoda Kanta Sarma after his death.
10.06.1997 - The Assam Board of Revenue had accepted the two appeals and the District Magistrate had rejected the land patta given to Premoda Kanta Sarma.
11.07.1997 - Bani Kanta Sarma and his brother had appealed a Civil Rule - 3228/97 against the hearing in Gauhati High Court.
In September, 2009 Kamal Bhattacharjee had taken the responsibility as Doloi in-charge from Bordeuri Jiten Sarma as Sarma had failed to provide evidence as to where the money of the temple had been spent to which he said that some bordeuris had taken the money from Sarma.
The member further informed that after Bhattacharjee had taken over charge many developmental works like drinking water facility, toilet for the pilgrims, a new house for the bordeuris, beautification of the pond etc. had been undertaken. “The documents that have been produced before the public through RTI by Bani Kanta Sarma and Kailash Sarma are nothing but only some signatures which have been given on the PAN card in the name of the temple,” he said.
But now, after a period of 22 years, the District & Session Judge has approved the Bordeuri Samaj to conduct the election of the Doloi and the members of the managing committee. The tenure of the Doloi is 10 years and that of the managing committee members is 5 years. The contestants for the election are from Nalbari and Sualkuchi and for the post of Doloi, the contestant from Nalbari will contest in the election while the contestants from Sualkuchi will contest to be members of the managing committee. The election will be held in the presence of Siddhartha Pratim Moitra, District & Session Judge, Kamrup (M).
In 2006, when it come to notice that there were many perplexities in managing the temple, some members of the managing committee, who were well wishers of the temple, had decided to apprise the then District Magistrate, Dilip Mahanta about the issue and accordingly, they had decided to hand over the charge to Kamal Bhattacharjee as the new Doloi in-charge of the temple.
The locals of Latasil and the Managing Committee of the temple opposed the decision to hand over the charge to Deuri Samaj as demanded by Bani Kanta Sarma and Kailash Sarma for the simple reason that being members of the Samaj it would only give them a chance to grab complete hold over the temple land.
• The election for Doloi and managing committee of Ugratara Devalaya will be held on 3rd September
• 11 contestants from Sualkuchi and Nalbari will contest in the election
• The tenure of Doloi is ten years while that of the managing committee members is five years
• The election will be held in the presence of Siddhartha Pratim Moitra, District & Session Judge, Kamrup (M)
