HC restores permission to Ludhiana trust to run Langar at Panchtarni

Jammu, Jul 23: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh at Jammu directed the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) to accord permission to Bhole Bhandari Charitable Trust, Ludhiana, to set up a traditional Langar at Panchtarni for the ongoing Amarnathji Yatra.

The court has given SASB one week’s time for compliance beginning July 22, 2025.

Justice Rahul Bharti of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh at Jammu, vide his judgment dated July 22, 2025, in WP(C) No 1185/2025, gave this direction to SASB while allowing the petition filed by Bhole Bhandari Charitable Trust (registered), Ludhiana.

The court held that the trust was arbitrarily and discriminatorily excluded by the authorities this year, despite an unblemished service record of 28 years and having received a valid NOC from the Camp Director for the Amarnath Yatra in 2024.

The court observed that such exclusion violates Articles 14 and 25 of the Constitution of India, affirming the fundamental right to perform service as a part of religious practice.

Rejecting the reply and objections of the respondents, Justice Bharti held that the petitioner (trust) had been victimised arbitrarily at the hands of the respondents (SASB and others), who “instead of being guided and governed by a policy and principle” were “being led by personal preferences and picks.”

“The respondents are hereby directed to immediately entertain the pending request of the petitioner-Bhole Bhandari Charitable Trust for being accorded permission to set up langar at Panchtarni for the remainder of this year’s Amarnath Yatra,” the court ruled.

Bhole Bhandari Charitable Trust Vice President, Bharat Bhushan Bharti, General Secretary Parveen Goel, and trustee Rajan Gupta said, ‘We are humbled by this judgment and grateful to the High Court for upholding truth and justice. Bhole Bhandari Charitable Trust remains committed to selfless service of the yatris, as we have done for nearly three decades. We appeal to the SASB for urgent compliance so we can resume serving devotees without delay.”