Bangalore, August 24, 2013: The Karnataka High Court on Friday stayed the dissolution of managing committees of two temples under the Muzrai Department by the government for eight weeks.

Justice Huluvadi G. Ramesh passed the order on two separate petitions questioning dissolution of managing committee of Someshwara Temple at Ulsoor in Bangalore and Bhagandeshwara temple at Bhagamandala in Kodagu district, respectively.

The appointments to the committee were made by the State Dharmika Parishath during the tenure of the previous BJP government last year. And the decision to dissolve the managing committees of 41 A grade temples under the Muzrai Department was taken by the Parishath, headed by the present Muzrai Minister, in its meeting held on July 31, 2013. The notifications dissolving the committees were issued during the second week of August.

It was contended by the petitioners that the management committees can be dissolved, before completion of three-year tenure, only for the reasons mentioned under Section 28 of the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Act, 1997, after holding an inquiry.

It was also argued that Parishath being a statutory body it cannot exercise its powers arbitrary as the appointment of managing committees are not done at the pleasure of the government and hence change in government cannot empower the Parishath to dissolve the committees.

Source: The Hindu, August 24, 2013