Priest Booked for Denying Dalit Couple Entry for Wedding in Uttarakhand:

A priest in Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal has been booked for caste-based discrimination after denying a Dalit couple entry to a temple for their wedding. The incident, which took place on March 5, 2025, has led to the filing of an FIR under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, after the bride's father, Nakul Dal, lodged a complaint.

The couple, Ankita and Ajay, were denied entry to the Adishakti Maa Bhuvaneshwari Temple in Sanguda Bilkhet, where they had planned to marry. According to a report by the Indian Express, the couple approached Priest Nagendra Selwal for permission to wed at the temple, but he allegedly abused them and locked the temple doors, preventing the wedding.

Local Intervention and the Role of Authorities

The bride's father, Nakul Dal, reported the incident to the authorities after the couple was unable to proceed with their marriage due to the priest's actions. Sub-inspector Rakesh Bisht told Indian Express that a local resident called him, informing him about the locked doors and the priest’s refusal to let the couple enter the temple because of their caste. Upon investigation, Bisht called the priest, demanding that the doors be opened.

The village resident, Nitin Kainthola, confirmed to Indian Express that the yagyashala (area designated for weddings) is never locked during the day, making the priest's actions particularly suspicious. Kainthola further explained that the family of the couple, who were financially struggling, had chosen the temple because it was affordable. However, due to the incident, the temple committee intervened and resolved the issue, with the help of the revenue police.

Wedding Held After Intervention

After the intervention by the revenue police, the temple doors were opened, and the wedding proceeded as planned. District Magistrate Dr. Ashish Chauhan has since ordered that the case be transferred to the regular police for further investigation.

This incident comes amid growing concerns over caste-based discrimination in places of worship in the region. In January 2023, a Dalit man was reportedly attacked for entering a temple in Uttarkashi. The issue highlights the ongoing challenges faced by marginalized communities in accessing religious spaces in some parts of India.

Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation

As the investigation continues, the priest, Nagendra Selwal, and his associate Nitish Khediyal have been booked under the SC/ST Act, with further legal actions pending. The case brings attention to caste discrimination within religious institutions and the need for continued vigilance to protect the rights of all individuals, regardless of their caste.