The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has announced that the Pashupati Gaushala Dharmashala, currently operated by the Marwadi Sewa Samiti, will be vacated as per legal provisions. In a press conference held today, PADT stated that the Kathmandu District Court’s decision on October 1 (Ashoj 16) will guide the future operation of the Dharmashala.
Dr. Milan Kumar Thapa, Member Secretary of PADT, emphasized that state property cannot be handed over to any individual or private group. Therefore, the Dharmashala will be vacated following the court’s verdict. He further added that the trust has reached an agreement with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) to manage and operate the Dharmashala in coordination.
According to Dr. Thapa, the Marwadi Sewa Samiti had been asked to renew the previous agreement after PADT canceled their contract on August 2, 2023 (Shrawan 17, 2080 BS), but they failed to comply within the given 15-day period.
Aashaman Sangat, Chair of Ward No. 8, KMC, stated that the local government stepped in after the organization running the Gaushala appeared to focus on acquiring Pashupatinath’s property. He mentioned that despite requests to the Marwadi Sewa Samiti for office space to manage the Dharmashala, the organization did not cooperate.
PADT Treasurer Narayan Prasad Subedi also stated that the Samiti’s claim of being tenants (“mohi”) on the property has no legal basis. He noted that the field records from land surveys conducted in 1964 (2021 BS) and 1985 (2042 BS) do not list the Samiti as tenants.
Spokesperson for the trust, Rewati Raman Adhikari, confirmed that the Dharmashala will be operated in collaboration with the Metropolitan City, adhering to the legal procedures set forth by the court.
Source: RSS
