- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13711 WP No. 7056 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR WRIT PETITION NO. 7056 OF 2026 (S-RES) BETWEEN: 1. SRI M.N. BASAVARAJU, SON OF NAGEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, MOODALABAGILU, MELUKOTE, PANDAVAPURA TALUK, RESIDENT OF MELKOTE VILLAGE AND HOBLI- PANDAVAPURA TALUK, MANDYA TALUK, KARNATAKA STATE - 571431. 2. SRI M.B.GANGADHARA, SON OF BASAVE GOWDA, AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, RESIDENT OF MELKOTE VILLAGE AND HOBLI, PANDAVAPURA TALUK, MANDYA TALUK, KARNATAKA STATE - 571431. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. CHETAN DESAI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, CHARITABLE AND ENDOWMENT DEPARTMENT, VIDHANA SOUDHA, Digitally signed by AASEEFA PARVEEN Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13711 WP No. 7056 of 2026 BENGALURU-560001. 2. THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE CHARITABLE AND ENDOWMENT DEPARTMENT, 4TH FLOOR, SRI MINTO ANJANEYA BHAVANA, ALURU VENKATA RAO ROAD, CHAMARAJPET, BENGALURU-560018. 3. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT DEPARTMENT ASHOKA NAGAR, MANDYA DISTRICT, MANDYA-571401. 4. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, PANDAVAPURA SUB-DIVISION, THYAGARAJA COLONY MANDYA DISTRICT, PANDAVAPURA - 571434. 5. THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SRI CHELUVARAYASWAMY AND SRI YOGA NARASIMHA SWAMY TEMPLE, RAJA STREET, PANDAVAPURA TALUK MANDYA DISTRICT, MELUKOTE-571431. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. SPOORTHY HEGDE, AGA) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WIT OF CERTIORARI OF ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT DIRECTION OF ORDER QUASHING THE SHOW CAUSE NOTICE BEARING NO S.C.T.CR04/2021-22 DATED 13/01/2026 ISSUED BY THE - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13711 WP No. 7056 of 2026 FOURTH RESPONDENT EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SN CHELUVARAYASWAMY TEMPLE, MELUKOTE, TO THE FIRST PETITIONER SRI M.N BASAVARAJU, AS PER ANNEXURE-A TO THE WRIT PETITIONS AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR ORAL ORDER In this petition petitioners seeks the following reliefs: "a) Issue a Writ of Certiorari or any other appropriate writ direction or Order quashing the Show Cause Notice bearing No.S.C.T.C.R.04/2021-22 dated 13.01.2026 issued by the fifth Respondent-Executive Officer, Sri.Cheluvarayaswamy Temple, Melukote, to the first Petitioner- Sri.M.N.Basavaraju, as per Annexure-A to the Writ Petitions; b) Issue a Writ of Certiorari or any other appropriate Writ, Direction or Order quashing the Show Cause Notice bearing No.S.C.T.C.R.12/2021-22 dated 13.01.2026 issued by the fifth Respondent-Executive Officer, Sri Cheluvarayaswamy Temple, Melukote to the second petitioner- Sri.M.B.Gangadhar, as per Annexure-B to the Writ Petitions; - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13711 WP No. 7056 of 2026 c) Grant such other relief or reliefs as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit to grant, in the facts and circumstances of the case, including awarding costs of the writ petitions, in the interests of justice and equity." 2. After arguing the matter for sometime, learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners intend to submit a reply to the impugned show cause notices at Annexure-A dated 13.01.2026 and Annexure-B dated 13.01.2026 issued by respondent No.5 - Executive Officer and put forth all contentions including jurisdiction and respondent No.5 may be directed to consider the same and proceed further in accordance with law. 3. Submission is placed on record. 4. Petition stands disposed of reserving liberty in favour of the petitioners to submit reply along with relevant documents to respondent No.5 - Executive Officer who issued both the impugned show cause notices at Annexures-A and B dated 13.01.2026. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13711 WP No. 7056 of 2026 5. If the petitioners submit such a detailed reply to respondent No.5 within a period of 6 weeks from today along with relevant documents, respondent No.5 shall provide sufficient and reasonable opportunity to the petitioners and hear them and proceed further in accordance with law. 6. It is further directed that till respondent No.5 considers and passes appropriate orders pursuant to the reply submitted by the petitioners as stated supra, the respondents shall not take any precipitative/coercive steps against the petitioners. Subject to the aforesaid directions, petition stands disposed of. Sd/- (S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR) JUDGE NS CT:TSM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 17