The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking restoration of a seven-foot-tall mutilated idol of Lord Vishnu in the Javari (Vaman) temple at Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. The idol, which was damaged centuries ago during Mughal invasions, has remained in the same condition ever since.

The case was heard on September 16, 2025, by a bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai. The court ruled that the idol would remain in its current form. It also clarified that devotees who wish to pray can do so at other temples.

During the hearing, the Chief Justice remarked, “This is purely publicity interest litigation. Go and ask the deity itself to do something now. You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. So go and pray now.”

The petition was filed by Rakesh Dalal, who argued that restoring the idol was important for protecting the right of devotees to worship and for reviving the temple’s sanctity.

After the verdict, Dalal expressed his disappointment, saying the decision had hurt his religious sentiments. He said it was “sad that such a situation exists even with a BJP government in power.”

Dalal had filed the public interest petition on June 13, demanding the replacement of the idol with a new one. He has also staged protests, including at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, and submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting restoration of the idol.

The Idol and the temple’s legacy

The idol of Lord Vishnu inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Javari temple is seven feet tall but headless. Because of the damage, no worship takes place there.

The temple, built between 1050 and 1075 AD by the Chandela rulers, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Khajuraho, famous for its extraordinary architecture. The walls of the temple depict all ten avatars of Lord Vishnu.

About the petitioner

Rakesh Dalal is the National President of the Rashtriya Veer Kisan Mazdoor Sangh, Delhi, and originally hails from Haryana. He is known for raising issues related to farmers and heritage religious sites. Apart from Khajuraho, he has worked on campaigns for repairing broken idols in temples across India. He has also held fasts outside the Javari temple to create awareness among locals about the matter.