The Rohtas district court in the state of Bihar issued the notice to the divine entity in regard to a case filed by the government’s Public Works Department. The department was complaining about a particular Hanuman temple that was causing an obstruction to traffic and encroaching on the road. The department had issued a notice to the temple, but had to back down after activists protested against the move. Having no other option, the government filed a case in court.
Hanuman, a prominent character in the Indian epic, Ramayana, is depicted with the face of a monkey, and as a being with phenomenal capabilities. Above all, his devotion to lord Ram, another of Hinduism’s deities, makes him a role model of devotion and piety.
This is not the first time the deity has been in trouble with the administration! Earlier in February, another Hanuman temple in the state was found to be encroaching on roads, and the administration issued a notice. However, activists protested in this situation too, and the notice had to be withdrawn.
In 2014, the god had also been issued an Aadhar card, the official identification card issued to Indian citizens. The card was delivered to an address in the state of Rajasthan, and was later found to be a prank that the administration had fallen for.
Lord Ram and his brother Lakshman have been having a hard time too. A lawyer in one of the state’s district courts sought to file a case against the two of them for banishing Rama’s wife Sita, a part of the Ramayana story. The magistrate dismissed the petition on the grounds that it was “not maintainable” and “beyond logic and facts.”
