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Disputes arose in 1908, between the two communities, each community claiming exclusive rights in the temple and idol, and rights of complete management.
The case so put forward was litigated at great length and for over twenty three years, scores of witnesses were examined, and over 600 exhibits were produced by Shwe. tamberies alone. The case was filed firstly before the Court of District and Sessions Judge at Akola, on appeal before the Judicial Commissioner of the Central provinces and finally before the Privy Council.
Following important points were investigated amongest others :
1) Whether the temple of Shri Antariksha Parasnath
and the main idol therein belonged to the Shwetambari or Digambari sect of the Jain Community ?
2)
W
Whether the Shwetambari community has the right of exclusive management of the temple and properties. ?
3) Whether the main Parasnath idol was a Shwetam
bari idol with waist tie and Kachota (Langoti).
4: Whether the Shwetambaries had a right of
·laping' (replastering) the idol ?
5) Whether any of the gentlemen, chiselled the
idol with some iron instrument ? ( to make it appear a Digambari idol )?
The Judicial Commissioner of the Central Provinces by a Judgment on Ist October 1923, said :Abstracts of Judgements in regards to points 1 to 4
" It seems to us that there is little doubt, that the principal idol was a Shwetambari one. There is both oral and documentary evidence going to show that this was the case."
(20)
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