Sammed Shikharji: Centre Halts Jharkhand Govt’s Decision To Convert Jain Shrine Into Tourist Spot, Orders Enforcement Of Ban On Liquor & Non-Veg Food

The Central Government via Office Memorandum yesterday halted the Jharkhand Government’s decision to convert the Jain Shrine i.e., Sammed Shikharji into a tourist spot amid intense protests by the Jain community.

The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has ordered enforcement of the prohibition on activities such as selling liquor, drugs, intoxicants, playing loud music, or usage of loudspeakers that were affecting the sacred monuments, lakes, rivers, caves, flora, and fauna, and causing pollution in the holy site.

The Centre has directed that the state should enforce the ban on the sale and consumption of liquor and non-vegetarian food on Parasnath Hill as provided in the state's OM of December 21, 2022.

Earlier, Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav had a meeting with the Jain community and he assured them that “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to preserving and protecting the rights of the Jain community over all their religious sites.”

Sammed Shikharji Parvat Kshetra is the world’s most sacred and revered Teerth Sthan of Jain Dharma.

The Jain community has been staging massive protests in different cities against the decision of the Jharkhand Government to promote tourism in this sacred place.

The Centre has directed the State Government to take all the necessary steps immediately.

The Centre has also directed the State Government to have two members from the Jain community and one member from the local Tribal community as Permanent Invitees to the Monitoring Committee constituted under the Eco Sensitive Zone notification enabling appropriate involvement and oversight by important stakeholders.

Click here to read/download Office Memorandum