IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Civil Writ Petition No.15355 of 2026 Date of Decision: 03.09.2026 _____________________________________________________________________ Mandir Thakurdwara Raghunath Ji Temple Trust ……...Petitioner Versus State of Himachal Pradesh & Ors. …....Respondents Coram Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sandeep Sharma, Judge. Whether approved for reporting? For the Petitioner: Mr. Sudhir Thakur, Senior Advocate with Mr. Karaun Negi, Advocate. For the respondents: Mr. Rajan Kahol & Mr. Vishal Panwar, Additional Advocates General with Mr. Ravi Chauhan & Mr. Anish Banshtu, Deputy Advocates General, for the respondent-State. Mr. Ajay Chauhan, Advocate, for respondent No.4 ___________________________________________________________________________ Sandeep Sharma, J. (Oral) Precisely, the grouse of the petitioner, as has been highlighted in the petition and further canvassed by Mr. Sudhir Thakur, learned Senior Counsel duly assisted by Mr. Karun Negi, learned counsel for the petitioner, is that an application seeking permission to organize Vaman Dwadashi Fair at Chaugan Ground, Nahan, w.e.f 18.09.2026 to 27.09.2026, was submitted on 20.04.2026, but till date, no permission has been granted, as a result thereof, Organizing Committee is in state of disarray. Mr. Thakur further states that, besides making application as detailed herein 2 above, Temple Committee has already deposited a sum of ₹4,54,000/- with the Municipal Corporation, Nahan, but now on one pretext or the other, permission is being delayed, as a result thereof, there is uncertainty with regard to holding of fair, as detailed hereinabove. It has been averred in the application that after the application was submitted, though administration called Temple Committee time and again and also attempted to pressurize it to reduce the number of days for which the fair is to be held, but since fair, which is religious in nature, is required to be organized on specified dates, Temple Committee is finding it difficult to reduce the number of days. Mr. Thakur further states that the ground, as detailed hereinabove, is not required for other public functions, but, an attempt is being made by some officials to accommodate other stakeholders, who had otherwise failed to book the ground prior to the booking made by the petitioner. 2. Having regard to the nature of prayer and order proposed to be passed in the instant proceedings, coupled with the fact that respondent-State is represented Mr. Mr. Vishal Panwar, learned Additional Advocate General and respondent No.4 is represent by Mr. Ajay Chauhan, Advocate, this Court sees no necessity to call for reply on behalf of the respondents. 3. Since application (Annexure P-4) having been filed by the petitioner, seeking therein permission to organize fair, as detailed herein above w.e.f 18.09.2026 to 27.09.2026, is still pending 3 consideration before the competent authority, coupled with the fact that petitioner has already deposited the requisite fee, this Court, without going into the merits of the case, deems it fit to dispose of the same with a direction to respondent No. 2 to ensure that final decision is taken on the application filed by the petitioner expeditiously, preferably within a period of three days so that no undue hardship is caused to the Committee in organizing the fair, which is otherwise scheduled to be held from 18.09.2026 to 27.09.2026. Ordered accordingly. While doing the needful, authorities concerned shall afford an opportunity of being heard to the members of the management Committee of the petitioner-Temple Trust and they shall also take note of the fact that fair, which is religious in nature, can only be organized on the auspicious dates, which falls between 18-9- 2026 to 27-9-2026. Application(s), if any, stand disposed of. (Sandeep Sharma ) Judge September 03, 2026 (sunil)