New notice boards declaring “Non-Hindus Entry Prohibited” have appeared at every access point to Har Ki Pauri, the most visited ghat in Haridwar, according to multiple media reports. The signs cited a 1916 municipal bylaw as their legal basis.
The boards have been erected by the Shri Ganga Sabha, the body that manages religious and administrative affairs at the site. The organisation has cited the 1916 Municipal Act and bylaws of Haridwar as the legal basis for the restriction and asserted that the entry of non-Hindus into the Har Ki Pauri area is expressly barred under these rules.
Har Ki Pauri is widely regarded as the spiritual heart of Haridwar, drawing thousands of pilgrims every day for ritual bathing in the Ganga. The move to display the prohibition publicly has raised questions about the legal standing, interpretation and enforceability of colonial-era bylaws in present-day civic governance.
Reacting to the banners, Samajwadi Party national spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chand accused the BJP and its affiliated organisations of promoting division. He said such moves undermine the unity of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Jains and claimed that since the BJP came to power, even festivals have become subjects of dispute.
“The real issue is why the BJP and its affiliated groups do not want people to celebrate festivals together or follow traditions in harmony. Somewhere, this is driven by vote-bank politics, and the entire country can clearly feel it,” he added.
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The Shri Ganga Sabha, founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, has defended the decision. Speaking to Dainik Bhaskar, Ganga Sabha president Nitin Gautam said the notices were meant to clarify existing rules rather than introduce new restrictions. “It is each individual’s responsibility to know what rules apply in which area,” he said. Gautam added that the boards were installed to remove confusion about regulations at Har Ki Pauri.
Several posters with "Entry of non Hindus prohibited" has come up at several places in and around Har-ki-Pauri in Haridwar. pic.twitter.com/3G9cyq4hrG
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) January 16, 2026 Colonial roots of a modern controversy
The 1916 municipal bylaws come from an agreement between Malaviya and the British colonial administration, according to a report by The New Indian Express. The intent was to preserve the religious sanctity and cultural character of Haridwar, which was then emerging as a major pilgrimage centre, the report stated.
Under these historical provisions, non-Hindus were barred from entering key ghats such as Har Ki Pauri and were also restricted from setting up permanent residences in certain parts of the town.
The Ganga Sabha maintained that these provisions continue to be part of the Haridwar Municipal Corporation’s current bylaws. Sadhus and local priests have for years demanded strict enforcement, not only to regulate entry but also to curb commercial activities by non-Hindus around the ghats.
The organisation’s demands go beyond Har Ki Pauri. It has repeatedly urged the state government and district administration to extend similar restrictions to all major ghats in Haridwar. The city is estimated to have around 72 ghats along the Ganga, many of which see heavy footfall during religious festivals.
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Administration treads cautiously
District administration officials have adopted a guarded approach in this matter. A senior official told Times of India that no fresh orders had been issued by the administration to enforce access restrictions at Har Ki Pauri.
The official added that enforcement of municipal bylaws falls under the jurisdiction of civic authorities and the police and any action would have to comply strictly with prevailing law. |
