Sri Bharath B Shetty v. The Commissioner

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 21920 OF 2026 (GM-R/C) BETWEEN:

SRI BHARATH B SHETTY AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS THE PRESIDENT THE MANAGING COMMITTEE, SRI. DURGA PARMESHWARI TEMPLE, KONJADI, ALBADI VILLAGE-576112, HEBRI TALUK UDUPI DISTRICT.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI. K CHANDRANATH ARIGA.,ADVOCATE)

AND:

¶1THE COMMISSIONER HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS MALE MAHADESHWARA BUILDING CHAMARAJPET BANGALORE 560018.

¶2THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS UDUPI DISTRICT RAJATHADRI MANIPAL 576 104 UDUPI.

¶3THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS

by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

UDUPI DISTRICT, 1ST FLOOR, 'B' BLOCK RAJATHADRI MANIPAL 576 104 UDUPI. …RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. MOHAMMED JAFAR SHAH., AGA FOR R1 TO R3)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO HOLD ANY ENQUIRY INTO SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS IN THE PETITION DATED 26/04/2026 (ANNX-F) AND ETC.

THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ

ORAL ORDER

¶1The petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: a. Directing the Respondents to hold an enquiry into specific allegations in the Petition dated:

26.04.2026 (ANNEXURE-F); b. Respondents to entrust the Directing the administration and management of the Bajana Mandali and the Temple Hall to the Committee of Management. c. Direct the Respondent No.1 to hold an enquiry into the affairs of the Bajana Mandali and the Temple hall. d. Allow this Writ Petition. e. Issue such other relief's as it deems fit to grant.

¶2The grievance of the petitioner is that during the annual jathra of the temple, the Managing Committee of Sri. Durga Parameswari Temple, Albadi Village, Hebri Taluk, Udupi District did not hand over the gold items and jewelry belonging to the deity nor was the bank statement and locker key handed over. The allegation also made that a hall which was constructed by a donation of the devotees has also not been handed over by some of the members of the Committee who have locked the said hall. It is on that basis, that the petitioner has submitted representation for enquiry to be made into the allegations made by the petitioner which have not been acted upon by the respondents. it is in that background that the petitioner is before this Court seeking for the aforesaid reliefs.

¶3When serious allegations have been made as regard to misappropriation of the ornaments belonging to a deity, as also misappropriation of monies, locker and property belonging to the deity. It was but required for the respondents to consider the said representation and acted on the same. It is the statutory duty on the part of respondent No.1 to protect the properties of the deity both movable and immovable. Since, no action has been taken by the

respondents, I am of the considered opinion that the writ petition is required to be partly-allowed, insofar as the enquiry is concerned. As such, this Court passes the following; ORDER i. The writ petition is partly allowed. ii. Respondent No.1 and/or an officer designated by him is directed to cause an enquiry into the allegations made by the petitioner in the representation dated 26.04.2026 at Annexure-F. If, upon such enquiry, the allegations are found to have substance, respondent No.1 shall take appropriate action in accordance with law. iii. The enquiry to be completed within a period of 60 days from the date of receipt of the copy of this order.

Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE

SR List No.: 1 Sl No.: 67