For the first time, DC Patiala removed, noted industrialist appointed chairperson of temple advisory managing committee
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ August 4,2025
In a surprise move, Punjab government has removed deputy commissioner Patiala as chairperson of advisory managing committee and appointed noted industrialist Rajinder Gupta of Trident group as chairperson of advisory managing committee to look after the affairs of Shri Kali Devi ji / Shri Raj Rajeshwari Ji.
Till now, deputy commissioner of Patiala is the chairperson of ‘Dharmarth Board’ which looks after the affairs of Hindu Temples in Patiala along with Shri Kali Devi ji / Shri Raj Rajeshwari Ji.
Now, with the new orders, Rajinder Gupta of Trident Group and Chairman Punjab Planning Commisison has been appointed as the new chairperson and the deputy commissioner of Patiala will be the member secretary of the advisory managing committee. Along with them nine members including officer, prominent industrialists of Punjab, citizens of Patiala are appointed. Another renowned industrialist AS Mittal of Sonalika Group who is vice-chairman of the state economic policy and planning board (SEPPB), Mahesh Mittal, director Aarti Sreels has also been appointed as members of the committee.
“In May this year, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal paid obeisance at Kali Mata Mandir, Patiala. Both the leaders had announced a facelift of the temple. Is this the facelift- appointing industrialists, who are busy, and already holds many key positions in Punjab government and removing the DC, a local administrator from the committee? This will hinder the development works, routine work of the mandir and affect the planned initiatives as for every small decision his accent will be needed. Otherwise its easy to get permission, sanction from local DC ” said former member of the advisory committee.
Rajesh Kumar Verma, a devotee said, “We have seen the conflicts over the management of a renowned Mandir at Jalandhar, where control of the shrine is in the hands of noted industrialist. With this change in managing committee of Shri Kali Devi ji / Shri Raj Rajeshwari Ji, in times to come, the struggle to take control of the temple management might increase between private persons/ industrialists/ politicians. Therefore, the Punjab government should reconsider this decision and reappoint local administrator as the head of the managing committee.”
At present, Preeti Yadav, I.A.S. DC Patiala is the Chairman, Advisory Managing Committee, Mandir Shri Kali Devi Ji/Shri Raj Rajeshwari Devi ji, Patiala. Ismat Vijay Singh, P.C.S., SDM Nabha is the Secretary, and Under Secretary Revenue, Department of Revenue, GoP, Naresh Gupta, Madan Arora,K.K. Sehgal, Narinder Pal, Manmohan Kapoor, Krishan Kumar Gupta, Ashwani Garg, Ravinder Nath Kaushal are members of the advisory managing committee, Mandir Shri Kali Devi Ji/Shri Raj Rajeshwari Devi ji, Patiala
About Shri Kali Devi Temple
Shri Kali Devi Temple was built by the Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala in 1936. The Maharaja was inspired to build the temple and bring the six-foot-tall statues of Maa Kali and Paawan Jyot from Bengal to Patiala. This large complex attracts devotees from distant places. A much older temple of Shri Raj Rajeshwari ji is also situated in the center of this complex. Because of Temple’s beautiful infrastructure, it has been declared a national monument. Devotees offer Mustard Oil, daal (lentils), sweets, coconuts, bangles, chunnis, goats, hens and liquor to the Divine Mother here.
