Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 12: Hereditary trustees of Kateel Goddess Durgaparameshwari temple have argued that the state religious council is the only body that is authorized to settle internal disputes relating to religious observations and traditional systems relating to temple. They asserted that neither the deputy commissioner of the district nor Muzrai department are vested with such powers.

Petitions filed by the temple hereditary trustees in connection with the ongoing dispute over running of Yakshagana Melas by the temple came up for hearing before a single judge bench of the high court presided over by Justice B Veerappa on Wednesday December 11.

Yakshagana Mela (file photo)

Senior advocate P S Rajagopal, appearing for the petitioners, said that the state religious council happens to be the only authority that can decide whether a temple belongs to the public, private parties, or whether it is listed under the notified temples of Muzrai department. "Religious council alone can look into the matter and decide. The hearing conducted by Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner on the basis of complaint filed by someone relating to running of the Yakshagana service of the temple is illegal," he felt.

The advocate also contended that the commissioner in Muzrai department was wrong in issuing an order to initiate auction process of the temple Yakshagana Mela. Additional advocate general of the state R Subrahmanya, argued that the petitioners are not the proclaimed hereditary trustees and hence they do not have the legal authority to file the petitions.

As arguments and counter arguments remained inconclusive, the hearing was adjourned to Thursday December 12.