- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:8278 WP No. 3888 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 25TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE R DEVDAS WRIT PETITION NO. 3888 OF 2025 (GM- POLICE) BETWEEN: SRI MAHALAKSHMI (SAMSKRUTHIKA KALA HALLI SAMBRAMA) DEVASTHANADA SEVA SAMITHI TRUST (R) (HALLI SAMBRAMA) DEVASTHANADA SEVA SAMITHI TRUST (R), SATHANURU VILLAGE AND POST, KASABA HOBLI, MANDYA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT571401. REP BY ITS SECRETARY SRI. CHENNAKESHAVA, R.V. COLLEGE POST, S/O LATE JAVARAYI HEGGADE, AGED ABOUT 76 YEARS, R/AT NO.145, 1 MAIN ROAD, 3RD CROSS, MUTHURAYINAGARA, MYSURU ROAD, BENGALURU.-560026. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. K P BHUVAN, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER MANDYA DISTRICT, MANDYA 571401. 2. SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE MANDYA, MANDYA DISTRICT 571401. 3. DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE OFFICE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT MANDYA, MANDYA DISTRICT. 571401. 4. CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE MANDYA RURAL DISTRICT MANDYA. 571401. Digitally signed by JUANITA THEJESWINI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC:8278 WP No. 3888 of 2025 5. INSPECTOR OF POLICE MANDYA RURAL POLICE STATION MANDYA. 571401. 6. THE TAHSILDAR MANDYA TALUK. MANDYA 571401. 7. SRI. NINGI DODACHANNAIAH, S/O LATE NINGI DODACHANNAIAH AGED ABOVE 75 YEARS. 8. SRI. PARAMESHA S/O LATE NINGI DODACHANNAIAH AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, 9. SRI. DHODHABIRAIAH ALIAS RAJU S/O LATE LAKKI DODACHANNAIAH AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS, 10. SRI. MASTI SHIVA RAMU S/O LATE MASTI JAVARAYI HEGGADE AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, 11. SRI. CHANNAPPA S/O LATE KAMBADA WODEYAR HUCHAPPA AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS, , 12. SRI. S.H NARASAPPA HEGGADE S/O LATE HALINA HUCHAPPA AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, 13. SRI. GANESHA S/O LATE HALINA HUCHAPPA, AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS, RESPONDENT NOS.7 TO 13 ARE ALL R/AT, SHATHANUR VILLAGE, KASABA HOBLI, MANDYA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT -571 402. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MOHAMMED JAFFAR SHAH, AGA FOR R1 TO R6) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO DIRECT THE R-2 TO 5 TO - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:8278 WP No. 3888 of 2025 GIVE ADEQUATE AND EFFECTIVE POLICE PROTECTION TO SAFE GUARD THE INTEREST OF THE PETITIONERS TRUST TO CELEBRATE MAHASHIVARATHRI FESTIVAL FRO, 26.02.2025 AND 27.02.2025 AT SRI. HALEGUDI, SRI. BEERESHWARD SWAMY TEMPLE SATHANOOR MANDYA TALUK. MANDYA DISTRICT VIDE ANNEXURE -C, C,1, C2 AND C3 AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE R DEVDAS ORAL ORDER This Court, on 12.02.2024, passed the following order: "Learned Additional Government Advocate is directed to take notice for respondent Nos.1 to 6. Learned counsel for the petitioner is directed to serve copies of the writ petition along with annexures on the learned Additional Government Advocate. Learned counsel for the petitioner/trust submits that as a trust, they are required to conduct a Jatra Mahotsava at Sri Mahalakshmi Temple situated at Sathanuru Village, Kasaba Hobli, Mandya Taluk, Mandya District during the Maha Shivarathri Festival. The petitioner anticipates trouble at the hands of respondent Nos.7 to 13. It is pointed out that even on the previous occasion, the petitioner had approached this Court, and this Court, by order dated 25.02.2022, - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:8278 WP No. 3888 of 2025 had passed an interim order as prayed for. It is submitted that another writ petition in W.P.No.82047/2023 was also filed and similar relief was given to the petitioner. However, a copy of orders passed in W.P.No.82047/2023 are not produced. Re-list this matter 17.02.2025. Learned Additional Government Advocate is directed to secure instructions from respondent No.5." 2. This Court is of the considered opinion that if there are disputes between two factions of the Managing Committee or persons taking care of the temple, one faction cannot seek police protection in the guise of conducting Jatra Mahotsava, to keep the other faction at bay. On the other hand, even under normal circumstances, if a sizeable crowd is expected for the Jatra Mahotsava, the authorities of the temple may request for appropriate police bandobast. 3. In that view of the matter, the fourth and the fifth respondents are hereby directed to consider the request made by the petitioner for providing appropriate police bandobasth for the smooth conduct of the Jatra Mahotsava at the temple premises and the surrounding area. - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC:8278 WP No. 3888 of 2025 4. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of. It is needless to observe that it is the primary duty of the petitioner, who seeks to conduct Jatra Mahotsava, to ensure that all arrangements are made and no law and order problem is created within the temple precincts. Any other conditions that could be imposed by the Police authorities shall also be informed to the petitioner beforehand and the petitioner shall comply with such conditions. Ordered accordingly. Learned Additional Government Advocate is directed to communicate this order to respondent Nos.4 and 5. Sd/- (R DEVDAS) JUDGE NV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 19