Divine Witnesses: Ram and Hanuman

The BBC reports (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7132124.stm) that a judge in India has asked the Hindu gods Ram and Hanuman to assist in lengthy land claims dispute, and has taken out newspaper ads to ask them to appear in his court (but what if they are not subscribers?).

Judge Singh presides in a “fast track” court - designed to resolve disputes quickly - in the city of Dhanbad.

The dispute is now 20 years old and revolves around the ownership of a 1.4 acre plot of land housing two temples.

The deities of Ram and Hanuman, the monkey god, are worshipped at the two temples on the land.

Temple priest Manmohan Pathak claims the land belongs to him. Locals say it belongs to the two deities.

The two sides first went to court in 1987.

A few years ago, the dispute was settled in favour of the locals. Then Mr Pathak challenged the verdict in a fast track court.

Gift

Judge Singh sent out two notices to the deities, but they were returned as the addresses were found to be “incomplete”.

Local say the temple belongs to the gods Pic: Mahadeo Sen

This prompted him to put out adverts in local newspapers summoning the gods.

“You failed to appear in court despite notices sent by a peon and later through registered post. You are herby directed to appear before the court personally”, Judge Singh’s notice said.

The two Hindu gods have been summoned as the defence claimed that they were owners of the disputed land.

“Since the land has been donated to the gods, it is necessary to make them a party to the case,” local lawyer Bijan Rawani said.

Gee, maybe Yahweh should have appeared to settle all of those evolution cases… Imagine asking Yahweh (or is it Allah) to appear and settle land claims issues in the Middle East! This judge might be onto something.