- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44119 WP No. 31740 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 3RD DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO.31740 OF 2024 (GM-R/C) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. K BALAKRISHNA KEDILAYA S/O SUBRAYA KEDILAYA AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS RESIDING AT DENJA HOUSE KOKKADA BELTHANGADI TALUK DAKSHINA KANNADA - 574 198 2. SRI.CHENNAPPA GOWDA S/O JATTANNA GOWDA AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS RESIDING AT UPPARU BARAMELU, KOKKADA BELTHANGADI TALUK DAKSHINA KANNADA - 574 198 3. SRI.KISHORE S/O VITTALA NAYKA AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS RESIDING AT ONITTHARU VILLAGE KOKKADA VILLAGE AND POST BELTHANGADI TALUK DAKSHINA KANNADA - 574 198 4. SRI.KEERTHAN K V S/O VITTALA BHANDARI AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44119 WP No. 31740 of 2024 RESIDING AT KORIGADDI KOKKADA VILLAGE AND POST BELTHANGADI TALUK DAKSHINA KANNADA - 574 198 5. SRI.PURANDARA S/O SESAPPA GOWDA AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS RESIDING AT THENKUBAILU HOUSE KOKKADA VILLAGE AND POST BELTHANGADI TALUK DAKSHINA KANNADA - 574 198 6. SRI.RAMANANDA BHAT S/O ANANTHA BHAT AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS RESIDING AT SHREENIKETHANA NEKKARLA HOUSE KOWKRADI KOKKADA VILLAGE AND POST BELTHANGADI TALUK DAKSHINA KANNADA 574 198 7. SMT. PRATHIMA W/O PURUSHOTHAMA K AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS RESIDING AT LAKSHMI NIVASA KOKKADA VILLAGE AND POST BELTHANGADI TALUK DAKSHINA KANNADA - 574 198 8. SMT. VANAJAKSHI W/O KRISHNA ACHARYA AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS RESIDING AT ALADKA HOUSE KOKKADA VILLAGE AND POST - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44119 WP No. 31740 of 2024 BELTHANGADI TALUK DAKSHINA KANNADA 574 198 9. SRI.GIRISH S/O BABU AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS RESIDING AT MAHAVEERA COLONY KOKKADA VILLAGE AND POST BELTHANGADI TALUK DAKSHINA KANNADA 574 198 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI.SACHIN B S, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE COMMISSIONER HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT DEPARTMENT MINTO SRI ANJANEYA BHAVAN ALUR VENKATARAO ROAD CHAMARAJAPETE BENGALURU 560 018 2. THE MEMBER SECRETARY RAJYA DHARMIKA PARISHATH HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT DEPARTMENT BENGALURU 560 018 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRMAN/PRESIDENT …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.B.RAVINDRANATH, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENT - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44119 WP No. 31740 of 2024 NO.1 TO APPOINT THE PETITIONERS AS MEMBER OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND CONSTITUTE THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE IN RESPECT OF THE TEMPLE BY NAME SRI.VAIDYANATHESHWARA TEMPLE, KOKKADA, BELTHANGADI TALUK, DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ ORAL ORDER 1. Learned AGA accepts notice for respondent Nos.1 and 2. 2. The petitioners are before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: i) Issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the Respondent No.1 to appoint the petitioners as member of Management Committee and constitute the management committee in respect of the temple by name Sri.Vaidyanatheshwara Temple, Kokkada, Belthangadi Taluk, Dakshina Kannada District. ii) Pass such other writ or directions or orders, as this Hon'ble Court deems fit to grant in the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity. 3. Respondent No.1 having issued a Notification/ Publication on 06.11.2023, inviting applications - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44119 WP No. 31740 of 2024 from the eligible applicants to constitute the Committee of Management of the Temple by name Sri.Vaidyanatheshwara Temple, Kokkada, Belthangadi Taluk, Dakshina Kannada District, the petitioners had submitted their applications. 4. The petitioners are before this Court aggrieved by the fact that no Committee of Management has been constituted. The application, which had been submitted by the petitioners not having been considered, a representation made by the petitioner No.1 on 30.10.2024 also not having been considered. 5. Whenever any application or representation is submitted by a citizen to the Authority, it is required for the said Authority to pass necessary orders on the same within a reasonable period of time either accepting or rejecting the said application. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44119 WP No. 31740 of 2024 6. It is needless to say that if an order of rejection is passed, it should be accompanied by reasons. Hence, I pass the following; ORDER i. Writ petition is allowed. ii. A mandamus is issued directing respondent No.1 to consider the applications of the petitioners and the representation dated 30.10.2024 within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. iii. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the entitlement of any of the petitioners to be appointed in the Committee of Management. iv. I.A.No.1/2025 stands disposed off. SD/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE NBM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 36