On September 16, 2025, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a petition seeking restoration of a seven-foot mutilated idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari temple in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.
The idol, part of the UNESCO-protected Khajuraho group of monuments, had been beheaded centuries ago during the Mughal invasions, left desecrated and dishonoured ever since.
The petitioner, a devotee named Rakesh Dalal, argued that restoring the idol was not merely about archaeology but about faith, dignity, and the fundamental right of Hindus to worship their deities in wholeness.
Go ask deity: Chief Justice Gavai's remark on plea to restore Vishnu idol stirs row
A bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai rejected a plea seeking the restoration of a damaged Lord Vishnu idol in Madhya Pradesh. However, the CJI's remarks to the petitioner were perceived as insensitive by a section of advocates.
"For Hindus, this remark cut deeper than the centuries-old wound inflicted by Mughal swords. It echoed a familiar taunt: “If your gods are real, why didn’t they protect themselves?”
This Hinduphobic trope, weaponised for centuries by Islamist rulers and modern-day secular elites, has now found a resounding endorsement in the Chief Justice of India." == runs an article in website opindia.com.
The response from the bench, led by Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, was not legal reasoning perhaps ...
“This is purely publicity interest litigation. Go and ask the deity itself to do something now.
You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. So go and pray now,” the CJI told the petitioner.
Several advocates have also written to CJI Gavai, asking him to withdraw his statement against Lord Vishnu and Sanatan dharma.
Advocate Vineet Jindal also sent a copy of his letter to the President.
"I hope the Supreme Court and the President will treat this matter with seriousness and ensure that the dignity of every faith is preserved," Jindal said in his letter to the CJI.
Another lawyer, Satyam Singh Rajput, wrote an open letter to CJI Gavai and asked him to reconsider and withdraw his remarks. In his letter, Rajput urged the CJI to issue a "clarification".
Bar and Bench ... tweeted:
Supreme Court hears a plea seeking restoration of the 7-foot-long beheaded idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari temple in Khajuraho, said to have been mutilated during Mughal invasions and left that way since.
Petitioner seeks the Court’s intervention to protect devotees’ right to worship and revive the sanctity of the temple
CJI BR Gavai: Go and ask the deity itself to do something now. You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. So go and pray now. It's an archaeological site and ASI needs to give permission etc. Sorry.
ends
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