The Hindu : Karnataka News : Seer against move to take over temple

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 26, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Seer against move to take over temple

By Our Staff Correspondent

RAICHUR, JAN. 25. The Pejawar seer, Vishvesha Tirtha, has said that he is "ready to sacrifice his life to ensure that the Krishna temple/mutt remains under the control of the Ashta Mutts."

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, the swamiji said some ministers in the State have been repeatedly saying that the Krishna Temple/Mutt should be brought under the Muzarai Department, and that the Government will soon appoint an administrator to take over the management of the temple.

He said that on several occasions, he had written to the Government and clarified through the media that no mutts and temples under the control of the Ashta Mutts have been covered by the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Act, 1977.

He noted that the Supreme Court had held that the Krishna temple/mutt was under the administration of the Ashta Mutts, even as it was brought under the purview of the Harijan Temples Entry Act by the then Madras Government.

The Supreme Court had also clarified that under Article 26 (D) of the Constitution, it is the fundamental right of religious denomination or its representatives to administer their properties in accordance with the law, he said.

He said that two years ago, the Udupi Tahsildar wrongfully included the Krishna temple/mutt in the list of temples managed by the Muzarai Department. However, the seers of the Ashta Mutts raised objections to it and asked the Government to set right the mistake. The issue was also brought to the notice of the present Government, which agreed to exclude the Krishna temple/mutt from the list, he said.

Gopura demolition

Regarding the controversy over the demolition of "Kanaka Gopura" in Udupi, the swamiji said the gopura was demolished to construct a new one. Some vested interests have made too much of the incident, he added.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka