Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 12: The Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, an anti-superstition organisation, has sought the cancellation of the Maharashtra government's decision to install astrological time devices at the State Secretariat and Legislature at a cost of nearly Rs 11 lakh.

The organisation on Friday opposed the installation, arguing that the State Secretariat, or Mantralaya, is meant for policymaking and public service and should not be turned into an astrological centre.

Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti member Dr Hamid Dabholkar said granting official status to such equipment at Vidhan Bhavan would indirectly legitimise astrological beliefs.

“The Mantralay (State Secretariat), meant for policy-making and public service, should not serve as an astrological centre. Granting official status to such equipment in the Vidhan Bhavan indirectly legitimises astrological beliefs,” Dabholkar said.

He said the decision was inconsistent with Article 51(A)(h) of the Indian Constitution, which calls upon citizens to develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.

The organisation has therefore urged the state government to withdraw the decision, maintaining that government institutions should promote scientific thinking and rational inquiry rather than practices based on astrological beliefs.

The controversy comes over the proposed installation of astrological time devices, which the organisation has opposed on constitutional and scientific grounds.