- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37904 WP No. 28573 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 28573 OF 2025 (GM-R/C) BETWEEN: SRI DURGAPARAMESHWARI TEMPLE, NALA NYAYATHARPU VILLAGE BELHANGADY TALUK DAKSHINA KANNADA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT SRI B HARISH KUMAR S/O B SANJEEVA BANGERA AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, R/AT KA-1-178(1) JYOTHI NILAYA, KALIYA GERUKATTE BELTHANGADY DAKSHINA KANNADA-574217 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAKSHITH KUMAR., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF HINDU RELIGIOUS Digitally signed by VANAMALA N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37904 WP No. 28573 of 2025 INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT, 2 AND 3 FLOOR MAHADESHWARA VARTHA BHAVAN VENKATRAO ROAD CHMRAJPET, BENGALURU-560018 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY 2. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER THE DEPARTMENT OF HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS, DAKSHINA KANNADA-575001 …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT NAVYA SHEKHAR, AGA) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT R2 TO PERMIT OR GRANT ACCORD TO THE PETITIONER TEMPLE TO UTILIZE THE TEMPLE FUNDS FOR PREPARATIONS AND EXECUTION OF THE DASARA EVENT SCHEDULE FROM 22.09.2025 TO 02.10.2025 AS PER ANNEXURE-A. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37904 WP No. 28573 of 2025 ORAL ORDER The petitioner has sought for directions to the second respondent to permit it to utilise "the Temple funds" for preparation and execution of the Dasara festivities between 22.09.2025 and 02.10.2025, and the petitioner’s prayer is in the context of this Court's order dated 30.07.2025 in W.P. No.8334/2025. This Court in the afore order has quashed the order dated 09.01.2025 constituting the managing committee for "Sri. Durgaparameswari Temple", Nyayatharpu Village, Belthangady Taluk, Dakshina Kannada stipulating that the applications filed shall be processed for due constitution of a new committee. This Court has also permitted the managing committee constituted under the order dated 09.01.2025 to manage the day-to-day affairs of the Temple without taking any decision which has major financial implication. The petitioner's constraints is because of this particular direction. The Dasara - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37904 WP No. 28573 of 2025 festivities would be part of the customary celebrations by the Temple and expenses will have to be incurred and there must be just arrangements in this regard. This Court, on a careful consideration is of the view that the petitioner must be at liberty to incur reasonable expenses for the festivities, but then subject to due process. The petitioner must file the estimated expenditure with the Assistant Commissioner, the Department of Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments, Dakshina Kannada [the second respondent], who shall consider the same and permit the petitioner to incur expenses as found reasonable from the Temple Funds. The petition stands disposed of accordingly. Sd/- (B M SHYAM PRASAD) JUDGE RB