SC Orders Former Judge B N Srikrishna To Head Committee To Manage Gokarna Temple

The Supreme Court on Monday (20 April) ordered that the management of ancient Gokarna Mahabaleshwar Temple in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka would be handed over to an oversight committee.

The 8 member oversight committee constituted by the Karnataka High Court would be headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice B N Srikrishna till a final decision is taken on its status, reports Indian Express.

A bench of Chief Justice of India S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian said “the appropriate course in the interest of the temple as well as the devotees as also the ‘Mutt’ would be to allow the administration of the temple by an independent committee so that the temple is administered in an appropriate manner for the benefit of all devotees until a final determination is made”.

Ramachnadrapura Mutt had challenged the August 2018 Karnataka High Court judgement quashing the 2008 Government Order and holding that the temple shall continue to be included in the list of notified institutions as per the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997 by the state government, in 2003. The Karnataka High Court had constituted an Overseeing Committee under the chairmanship of the Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner to manage its affairs.

The Gokarna Mahabaleshwara temple was under government control till 12 August 2008 when the then Karnataka government led by B S Yeddyurappa had handed over the management of the temple to Mutt.

The Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997 under which the notification was issued in 2003, which brought the fourth century built Sri Mahabaleshwara temple under state control was thereafter declared as unconstitutional by the High Court and a challenge to this is pending considerations in the top court.

“Thus, the result in the said appeal would also have a bearing on this case, apart from the factual aspects involved in these petitions which require deeper consideration,” the Supreme Court said.