- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27096 WP No. 6722 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL WRIT PETITION NO. 6722 OF 2023 (GM-R/C) BETWEEN: 1. SRI.PRASHANTH KUMAR SHETTY ARAIMANE AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, S/O SRI. RATHNAKAR SHETTY ARAIMANE, OCC - AGRICULTURE, 2. SRI. RATHNAKAR SHETTY ARAIMANE AGED ABOUT 78 YEARS, S/O LATE BABU SHETTY, OCC - AGRICULTURE, BOTH ARE R/AT 'ARAIMANE', YELLURU VILLAGE AND POST, KAPU TALUK, UDUPI DISTRICT-574 113. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. PRASANNA V R.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, DEPT. OF REVENUE, HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS, (HRI AND CE), M.S. BUILDING, BENGALURU-560 001. 2. THE COMMISSIONER HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS, (HRI AND CE), GOVT. OF KARNATAKA, Digitally signed by SUMA B N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27096 WP No. 6722 of 2023 MINTO ANJANEYA BUILDING, A V ROAD, CHAMARAJPET, BENGALURU-560 018. 3. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER UDUPI DISTRICT, DEPT. OF HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS, RAJATADRI, MANIPALA, UDUPI DISTRICT-576 104. 4. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER DEPT. OF HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS, RAJATADRI, MANIPALA, UDUPI DISTRICT-576 104. 5. THE TAHSILDAR KAPU TALUK, UDUPI DISTRICT-574 106. 6. THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER MAHATHOBHARA SHREE VISHWEHSWARA TEMPLE, YELLURU, YELLURU POST, KAPU TALUK, UDUPI DISTRICT-574 113. 7. THE MANAGING COMMITTEE MAHATHOBHARA SHREE VISHWESHWARA TEMPLE, YELLURU, YELLURU POST, KAPU TALUK, UDUPI DISTRICT-574113, REP. BY ITS PRESIDENT. 8. JAGADISHA ARASA S/O RAMAKRISHNA SHETTY AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS ARASARAMANE KUTHYAR, KAUP TALUK UDUPI DISTRICT - 574 116. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MANJUNATH RAYAPPA, AGA FOR R1 TO R6; SRI. VINAYAKA B., ADVOCATE FOR R7; SRI. K. PRASAD HEGDE., ADVOCATE FOR R8) - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27096 WP No. 6722 of 2023 THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO QUASH THE COMMUNICATION DATED 04/02/2023 IN NO. E-925041-HRICE- ADMOADM1/922/2022 ISSUED BY THE R-2 COMMISSIONER, DEPT. OF HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS, BENGALURU, VIDE ANNEXURE-A AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL ORAL ORDER Short grievance of the petitioners is that by communication dated 04.02.2023 as per Annexure-A, respondent No.2-Commissioner has directed the tradition of distribution of ''prasada'' to be made directly to the devotees of the subject temple until resolution of the discord between the two groups namely the petitioner and respondent No.8. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that while doing so he has indicated that the rival group are entitled to receive the ''prasada'', which has adversely affected the petitioner as he was not heard before making such observations. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27096 WP No. 6722 of 2023 3. In response, learned counsel for the respondent No.8, who is contesting and claiming prerogative rights submits that if a direction is issued to the respondent No.2- Commissioner/Tribunal to determine the dispute between the petitioner and respondent No.8, as expeditiously as possible with regard to their right to receive the ''prasada'' as per the tradition, grievance of respondent No.8 would also be served. 4. Learned AGA, at this juncture submits that till resolution of the dispute by the Competent Authority, the temporary arrangement of distribution of ''prasada'' as per Annexure-A would continue. 5. Above three submissions are placed on record. 6. Petitioner as well as respondent No.8 are at liberty to approach the competent authority to resolve their mutual dispute. 7. It is made clear that any observations being made in the impugned communication at Annexure-A affecting - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27096 WP No. 6722 of 2023 the rights of any of the parties shall not be given effect to. It is further made clear till resolution of the dispute between the petitioner and respondent No.8, the direction issued in the impugned communication as per Annexure-A to distribute the ''prasada'' on temporary basis shall continue. Petition is disposed of accordingly. SD/- (M.G.S. KAMAL) JUDGE RL List No.: 1 Sl No.: 20