Eight Tuljabhavani priests face action for spitting tobacco on the temple premises

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The temple administration of Tuljabhavani has issued notices to eight priests after surveillance footage showed them using tobacco and spitting inside the temple grounds, which officials consider a violation of the shrine's sanctity.The temple trust has indicated possible three-month entry restrictions for the priests, citing the Deul-e-Kawayat Act's sections 24 and 25 as grounds for disciplinary action.The administration said this conduct violated both priestly protocol and the sacred nature of the premises. The notices highlight how such actions negatively impact the temple's reputation and disrupt its functioning.Dharashiv collector Keerthi Kiran Pujar verified the situation and told TOI: "The CCTV cameras installed on the temple premises caught eight priests spitting. Notices have been served to those priests by the temple administration for explanation. Strict action will be taken against the guilty and they will be banned from temple entry for a fixed duration."The notices were issued to Vaibhav Bhosale, Vishal Magar, Lakhan Bhosale, Vishal Chavan, Vishal Gangane, Akshay Kishor Kadam-Bhaiyye, Rahul Pawar, and Dheeraj Chopdar.A senior temple administrator confirmed that the priests must provide written explanations within three days or face a three-month entry prohibition.The violation was discovered during standard CCTV footage review, which showed the priests consuming tobacco and spitting within the temple complex, breaking established rules.The administration stressed that tobacco products are forbidden in the temple premises, and violations, particularly by religious officials, warrant strict action.This enforcement action, while not unprecedented, represents one of the strongest disciplinary measures taken recently to maintain proper conduct among staff at this significant Maharashtra Shakti peetha.