New Delhi: Describing it as a “publicity interest litigation”, the Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking directions to reconstruct and reinstall a seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari Temple, part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Khajuraho temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.

A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran declined to entertain the plea filed by one Rakesh Dalal, who had sought the replacement and consecration of the damaged idol at the Javari Temple, located in Chhatarpur district.

“This is purely publicity interest litigation… Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying that you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then you pray and do some meditation,” remarked the Chief Justice.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the idol’s head was in a dilapidated state and urged the court to intervene and permit its reconstruction.

However, the bench observed that the matter clearly fell within the purview of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

“It’s an archaeological find, whether the ASI would permit such a thing to be done or not… there are various issues,” said the Chief Justice.

He further added: “In the meantime, if you are not averse to Shaivism, you can go and worship there… there is a very big linga of Shiva, one of the biggest in Khajuraho.”

Dalal’s petition had sought judicial directions for the replacement or reconstruction of the idol, stating that multiple representations had already been submitted to the Union Home Ministry and the ASI.

PTI