Jain Shwetambar Tirth Antriksha Parshwanath

Author(s): Antriksha Parshwanath Sansthan Shirpur
Publisher: Antriksha Parshwanath Sansthan

Page 41

7. We have lost faith in the fairness of the Digambari Community, who, even when the latest negotiations were in progress committed acts of occupation etc. We have lodged more than fifty police complaints regarding continued flouting of the management, of planting of evidence, encroachment on its lands and properties, moving and placing of new idols and interference in Shwetambari rights of worship and management etc.
8. We maintain that there could be no dispute as regards the legal rights of the parties as clearly visualised by the Nagpur High Court in Civil Revision Application No. 361 of 1964. by a Judgment on the 6th April, 1966 their Lordships observed as follow:- "The learned Judge has observed that the dispute in suit is between two rival sects of the same religion. That is not a strictly correct statement. It is no longer a matter of dispute between two contesting parties. The defendants (Shwetambaris) are doing the things complained of under authority of the Civil Court as also of the Privy Council Those decisions must stand until they are set aside in accordance with law and till they are set aside, the dispute is between mere challengers or claimants on the one hand and persons whose rights have been upheld by the highest tribunal, on the other."
We, therefore, pray that the judgement holder should be protected and the state should view the Digambari claim in its correct perspective.
We are deeply concerned of the bitterness between the two sister communities, and should like to avoid it but when the very principles of our religious rites, usage and our heritage and culture are invovled, we cannot shirk our responsibility. We have not interfered with any rights of the Digambari Community, and expect them to respect ours. It is with this deep sense of responsibility, we invite your Honour to uphold justice.
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