‘Not Yours To Control’: Supreme Court Revokes Karnataka Government’s Takeover Of Gokarna Temple

The Supreme Court has passed a judgement revoking the Karnataka Government’s move to take over Gokarna Temple’s administration from the Ramachandrapura Mutt, Vijayavani reported.

A bench consisting of Justice AM Khanwalikar and Kurian Joseph overturned the Karnataka government’s takeover of the temple.

The seer of the Ramachadrapura Mutt Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati welcomed the judgement with a tweet which said ‘Satyameva Jayate’.

The temple was under government control till 2 August 2008 when the then Karnataka government led by BS Yeddyurappa had handed over the temple’s management to the Ramachandrapur Mutt.

Subsequently, the Karnataka High Court ordered that the Karnataka government regain control of the temple from 10 September after recording the inventories. The High Court’s order has now been reversed by the apex court.

The Karnataka government had set up a committee headed by retired judge BN Srikrishna and six officials to oversee the temple administration. The Ramachandrapura Mutt which was taking care of the temple had filed a contempt petition before the Supreme Court.

The court had ordered the state government to refrain from taking over the temple until the final verdict in a pending case was delivered.