Himachal Pradesh High Court
Decided On: 18.04.2026 vs Baba Balak Nath Temple Trust And Others on 18 April, 2026
Author: Ajay Mohan Goel
Bench: Ajay Mohan Goel
2026:HHC:12482-DB
IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA
CWP No.7282 of 2021
Decided on: 18.04.2026
Ramesh Kumar Dehal ... Petitioner
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Versus
Baba Balak Nath Temple Trust and others ... Respondents
Coram
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Ajay Mohan Goel, Judge.
Whether approved for reporting?1Yes
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For the petitioner: Mr. Shekhar Badola, Advocate, vice
Mr. Ramakant Sharma, Advocate.
For the respondents: Mr. Avneesh Bhardwaj, Advocate.
Ajay Mohan Goel, Judge (Oral)
rt By way of this petition, the petitioner has, inter alia, prayed for the following reliefs:-
"i) That the respondents may kindly be restrained from extracting the works other than that of teaching from the petitioner alike Mela duty in Baba Balak Nath Temple etc.
(ii) That the office order dated 15/07/2021 at annexure P-4 and office order dated 16/07/2021 at annexure P-5 may kindly be quashed and set aside."
2. When the case was taken up for consideration, learned Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is forgoing Reliefs No.1 and 2, as they have been rendered infructuous with the passage of time as the petitioner has retired. Learned Counsel submits that as the petitioner was called upon to perform Mela Duties by the Baba Balak Nath Temple Trust and because the petitioner has not been paid any additional emoluments for the work 1 Whether reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment?
::: Downloaded on - 20/04/2026 20:31:18 :::CIS 22026:HHC:12482-DB extracted from him, a mandamus be issued to the respondents to indemnify the petitioner for the same. He confined the arguments qua this relief only.
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3. A perusal of the pleadings demonstrates that on account of COVID-19 Pandemic, in terms of Annexure P-4, the petitioner was deputed alongwith other Lecturers as Sector Officer at Baba Balak Nath Temple, Deotsidh, from 17.07.2021 to 18.07.2021 and, of thereafter, on every forthcoming Saturday and Sunday till further orders. In addition to the petitioner and Lecturers mentioned in rt Annexure P-4, Naib Tehsildar Bhota, Tehsildar Dhatwal and Naib Tehsildar Barsar were also deputed to ensure appropriate COVID behaviour during Saturdays and Sundays w.e.f. 17.07.2021. For this work performed by the petitioner, he is seeking remuneration.
4. This Court is of the considered view that the petitioner is not entitled for the relief being prayed for by him. It is not his case that in terms of Annexure P-4, other Lecturers deputed were paid extra remuneration, whereas the petitioner was denied the same.
Obviously, as COVID-19 Pandemic was an extraordinary situation and the petitioner happened to be an employee of Baba Balak Nath Temple, Deotsidh, he alongwith Lecturers were called upon by the employer to act as Sector Officers at the Baba Balak Nath Temple, Deotsidh in view of the rush of the devotees, more so on Saturdays and Sundays. It is not as if in terms of Annexure P-4, anything was promised to the petitioner which was not ultimately paid to him. The ::: Downloaded on - 20/04/2026 20:31:18 :::CIS 3 2026:HHC:12482-DB petitioner was not called upon to perform the duties in a marriage ceremony or in a picnic. He was called upon was to act as a Sector Officer at Baba Balak Nath Temple, Deotsidh alongwith other .
Lecturers in view of the COVID-19 Pandemic, which obviously was a precautionary measure taken by the Temple Trust to check the on-
spread of COVID-19 Pandemic, so as to ensure COVID appropriate behaviour.
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5. Therefore, as the petition qua the said relief is completely misconceived, the same is dismissed. Pending miscellaneous rt application(s), if any also stand disposed of accordingly.
(Ajay Mohan Goel) Judge April 18, 2026 (Rishi) ::: Downloaded on - 20/04/2026 20:31:18 :::CIS