KATHMANDU: In a major legal victory for public heritage management, the Patan High Court has ruled that full ownership and control of the Pashupati Gaushala Dharamshala belongs entirely to the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT).

A joint bench of Justices Khadga Bahadur KC and Ramesh Prasad Gyawali upheld the previous decision of the Kathmandu District Court from October 2, 2024, dismissing the appeal filed by the Marwadi Sewa Samiti.

The court noted that the Samiti, which had occupied the property for nearly 23 years, possessed no tenant rights over the land.

Furthermore, the verdict highlighted that the Samiti had breached its original 2003 agreement by unilaterally constructing unauthorized commercial structures—including hotels and health services—without PADT’s approval, while failing to fulfill its primary mandate of shelter and care for sacred bulls and cows.