Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 26: During the hearing of a public interest petition filed against the spiritual head of Ramachandrapur Math, Sri Raghaveshwarateertha Swamiji, on Monday November 25, a division bench of the state high court headed by Chief Justice, A S Oka, wondered why does the Swamiji dither from facing trial, if he is confident that he has done nothing wrong. It said that the Swamiji can get his name cleared by facing the case if the charges levelled against him are baseless.

The public interest litigation demanding the ouster of Sri Raghaveshwara Swamiji as head of Ramachandrapur Math and seeking the appointment of an administrator for the Math in his place, and appeal field against the stay granted by the single judge of the high court, were taken up for consideration by the bench on Monday.

Advocates for the Swamiji noted that the petitioners have claimed to be the devotees of the Math, and argued that they have specifically filed this suit to harm the reputation of the Swamiji. They said that if this petition is allowed, several more petitions will be filed, which will sully the image of the Math.

The bench orally said that the Swamiji can face the case and come out of it unscathed if he has not done anything wrong. It also wanted to know why the high court should not on its register the petition and hear the case as the charges levelled against the Swamiji are serious.

The public prosecutor said that the chief secretary has directed the muzrai department to inquire into allegations against the Math. After hearing both the sides, the bench said that it will hear both the public interest litigation and appeal together on December 16.

When the petition came up for hearing on Monday, advocates for Ishwar Bhat and Jayakrishna, who are the petitioners, urged the division bench to take up the appeal and public interest litigation for hearing together.