In the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 14 TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2015

BEFORE

THE HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE ANAND BYRAREDDY

WRIT PETITION NOS. 42446-42447/2015 (GM- R/C) C/W WRIT PETITION NO. 32966/2015 WRIT PETITION NOS.35553-35561/2015 WRIT PETITION NO.36310/2015

WRIT PETITION NOS. 42446-42447/2015 BETWEEN:

1. HALEKOTE MARIYAMMA MAHISHASHURA MARDHINI TEMPLE, BOLAR, MANGALORE, REPRESENTED BY ITS TRUSTEE, MR. YATISH ADYANTAYA, S/O. LATE DR. ADYANTAYA, AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS.

2. MAHALINGESHWARA TEMPLE PANDESHWAR, MANGALORE-575001, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT, THE MANAGING COMMITTEE, MR. JEEVAN KUMAR. ... PETITIONERS

(BY SRI HARIKRISHNA S HOLLA, ADV.)

AND:

1. THE COMMISSIONER FOR HINDU RELIGIOUS & CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS, MALAI MAHADESHWARA BUILDING, ALUR VENKATA RAO ROAD,

CHAMRAJPET, BANGALORE-560018.

2. RAJYA DHARMIKA PARISHATH MALAI MAHADESHWARA BUILDING, ALUR VENKATA RAO ROAD, CHAMRAJPET, BANGALORE-560018, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY.

3. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT, MANGALORE-575001.

4. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT, MANGALORE-575001.

5. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, REVENUE DEPARTMENT, M.S. BUILDING, VIDHANA VEEDHI, BANGALORE-560001. ... RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI T.L. KIRAN KUMAR, AGA FOR R1,R3,R4 & R5; SRI B.S. SACHIN, ADV. FOR R2)

THESE WRIT PETITIONS ARE FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO CALL FOR THE ENTIRE RECORDS PERTAINING TO THE IMPUGNED NOTIFICATION DATED 23.6.2015 VIDE ANNEXURE-D ISSUED BY THE R-1 AND ISSUE WRIT IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI TO QUASH THE SAID NOTIFICATION , THE SAME AS WHOLLY UNAUTHORIZED, VOID AND DISCRIMINATORY AND ETC.

WRIT PETITION NO. 32966/2015

BETWEEN:

UDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICTS TEMPLE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (REGD), OFFICE D.NO.3-3-56, SRI JANARDHANA AND MAHAKALI TEMPLES,

AMBALPADY WARD, AMBALPADY 576103, UDUPI DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY ITS TRUSTEE, R/O THADEKALLU, NEELAVARA VILLAGE AND POST, UDUPI TALUK AND DISTRICT. ... PETITIONER

(BY SRI H. SUBRAMANYA JOIS, SR. COUNSEL FOR SRI SHANTAKUMAR K.C., ADV.)

AND:

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, REVENUE DEPARTMENT, M.S. BUILDING, VIDHANA VEEDHI, BANGALORE-560001.

2. THE COMMISSIONER FOR RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS IN KARNATAKA, MALAI MAHADESHWARA BUILDING, ALUR VENKATA RAO ROAD, CHAMARAJAPET, BANGALORE-560018.

3. RAJYA DHARMIK PARISHATH BANGALORE, MALE MADESHWARA BHAVAN, ALUR VENKATA RAO ROAD, CHAMRAJPET, BANGALORE 560018, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY.

4. ZILLA DHARMIK PARISHATH UDUPI DISTRICT, UDUPI, REPRESENTED BY ITS EX-OFFICIO SECRETARY, THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, UDUPI SUB-DIVISION, UDUPI.

5. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT, MANGALORE.

6. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER UDUPI DISTRICT, UDUPI.

7. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT, MANGALORE.

8. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER HINDU RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS, DEPARTMENT, UDUPI SUB-DIVISION, UDUPI . ... RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI T.L. KIRAN KUMAR, AGA FOR R1, R2, R5 TO R8; SRI B.S. SACHIN, ADV. FOR R3 & R4)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO CALL FOR AND PERUSE THE ENTIRE RECORDS CONCERNING, CONNECTED WITH AND PERTAINING TO THE IMPUGNED NOTIFICATION DATED 23.6.2015 VIDE ANNEXURE-B ISSUED BY THE R-2 AND DECLARE AND QUASH BY THE ISSUE OF WRIT OF CERTIORARI DOWN THE SAME AS WHOLLY UNAUTHORISED, VOID AND AUTHORITARIAN, BESIDES BEING CONTUMACIOUS AND DISCRIMINATORY.

WRIT PETITION NOS.35553-35561/2015 BETWEEN:

1. U. PARAMESHWARA MADHYASTHA AGED 71 YEARS, S/O. LATE U. KUPPANNA MADHYASTHA, PRASHANTH NILAYA, KUDRUBETTU, UPPOOR - 576105, UDUPI TALUK & DISTRICT.

2. DEVADASA U AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, S/O. ANNAYYA U,

DOOR NO. 5-140, KUDRUBETTU, UPPOOR-576105, UDUPI TALUK & DISTRICT.

3. MAHESH KOTIAN AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS, S/O. LATE NARAYANA POOJARY, R/AT “SRI GAUTHAM”, UGGELBETTU, UPPOOR-576105, UDUPI TALUK & DISTRICT.

4. U. GANESH KALKUR AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, S/O. U. MANJUNATHA KALKUR, “CHAITHANYA”, THENKA BETTU POST, UPPOOR-576105, UDUPI TALUK & DISTRICT.

5. GOPALA KANCHAN AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS, S/O. MAHALINGA KARKERA, THENKA BETTU POST, UPPOOR-576105, UDUPI TALUK & DISTRICT.

6. REKHA G. MARATHE AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, W/O. GANESH R. MARATHE, “BANDHAVYA”, LAKSHMINAGARA, KOLALAGIRI POST, UPPOOR-576105, UDUPI TALUK & DISTRICT.

7. AJITH SHETTY AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, S/O. LATE SUNDAR SHETTY, DOOR NO.4-175, UPPOOR DODDAMANE, THENKA BETTU POST, UPPOOR-576105, UDUPI TALUK & DISTRICT.

8. NAGENDRA NAIK AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS, S/O. LATE ANANDA NAIK, LAKSHMINAGAR, NARNADUGUDDE, KOLALAGIRI POST, UPPOOR-576105, UDUPI TALUK & DISTRICT.

9. SUNANDA P. ACHARYA AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, W/O. PADMANABHA ACHARYA, “SRI KALIKAMBA” LAKSHMINAGARA, KOLALAGIRI POST, UPPOOR-576105, UDUPI TALUK & DISTRICT . ... PETITIONERS

(BY SRI S.K. ACHARYA, ADV.)

AND:

1. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER HINDU RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS, “RAJATHADRI”, MANIPAL-576104, UDUPI DISTRICT.

2. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER HINDU RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE, ENDOWMENTS, “RAJATHADRI”, MANIPAL-576104, UDUPI DISTRICT.

3. RAJYA DHARMIKA PARISHATH MALEMAHADESHWARA BUILDING, ALURU VENKATARAO ROAD, CHAMARAJPET, BANGALORE-560018, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY.

4. NAGESH SHANBHAUG BLOCK EDUCATION OFFICER, BRAHMAVARA, UDUPI DISTRICT. ... RESPONDENTS (BY SRI T.L. KIRAN KUMAR, AGA FOR R1 & R2; SRI B.S. SACHIN, ADV. FOR R3, R4-SD)

THESE WRIT PETITIONS ARE FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 4.7.2015 ON THE FILE OF THE R-1 VIDE ANNEXURE-A AND TO DECLARE THE SAME AS VOID AND ILLEGAL, AND ETC.

WRIT PETITION NO.36310/2015 BETWEEN:

THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT OF SRI LAKSHMIJANARADHAN TEMPLE KAUP, UDUPI DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT, MOHAN BANGERA, AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS, S/O. MUDARA KOTIAN, DEVA NILAYA, LAXMI NAGAR, PADU VILLAGE, P.O. KAUP-574106, UDUPI DISTRICT. ... PETITIONER

(BY SRI VYASA RAO K.S., ADV.)

AND:

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS REVENUE SECRETARY, CUM-SECRETARY TO RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BANGALORE-560001.

2. THE COMMISSIONER HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS-CUM-SECRETARY, RAJYA DHARMIKA PARISHATH, ALUR VENKATRAO ROAD, CHAMARAJPET, BANGALORE-560018.

3. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS, UDUPI, RAJATHADRI, MANIPAL-576104, UDUPI DISTRICT.

4. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS, UDUPI, RAJATHADRI, MANIPAL-576104, UDUPI DISTRICT. ... RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI T.L. KIRAN KUMAR, AGA)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO COMMAND THE RESPONDENTS TO FORBEAR FROM TAKING ANY ADVERSE ACTION IN EXERCISE OF POWERS UNDER SECTION 24A, 25 AND 29 OF THE KARNATAKA HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT ACT 1997 AS AMENDED BY THE KARNATAKA ACT NO. 27/2011 AND 12/2012 AND ANY OTHER PROVISIONS OF ACT AND TO DECLARE SUCH EXERCISE OF POWERS AS DISCRIMINATORY AND BIASED, AND ETC.

THESE WRIT PETITIONS COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, THE COURT DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING :

ORDER

In view of a decision of a Division Bench of Dharwad

Bench, in Writ Petition Nos.64805-64868/2011 and connected petitions, dated 17.11.2015, the writ petitions are allowed in terms thereof. The impugned annexures are quashed.

Sd/- JUDGE

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