- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010328182025 NC: 2026:KHC:37392 WP No. 14433 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 14433 OF 2025 (GM-R/C) BETWEEN: SRI. AKASH KUMAR, S/O LATE SRI. TARANATHA A.N., AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, R/AT 'NOOCHILA HOUSE', SUBRAMANYA VILLAGE, SUBRAMANYA POST, KADABA TALUK, DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT, SUBRAMANYA - 574 238. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. VIVEK SUBBAREDDY, SENIOR ADVOCATE FOR SRI.AKHIL S., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT OF STATE OF KARNATAKA, REVENUE DEAPRTMENT, HINDU RELIGIOUS ENDOWMENT, Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010328182025 NC: 2026:KHC:37392 WP No. 14433 of 2025 MS BUILDING, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU - 560 001. 3. DR. M.V.VENKATESH I. A. S., MEMBER SECRETARY, KARNATAKA STATE RELIGIOUS COUNCIL AND COMMISSIONER OF RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND RELIGIOUS ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, M.S. BUILDING, VIDHAN SOUDHA, BENGALURU - 560 001. 4. EXECUTIVE OFFICER, KUKKE SUBRAMANYA TEMPLE, SUBRAMANYA VILLAGE, SUBRAMANYA POST, KADABA TALUK, SULIA, DAKSHIN KANNADA DISTRICT, SUBRAMANYA - 574 238. 5. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, STATE BANK ROAD, DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT, MANGALURU - 575 001. 6. SUPERINDENT OF POLICE, PANDESWAHAR, DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT, MANGALURU - 575 001. 7. SRI. HARISH INJADY, S/O PUNGAVA GOWDA, - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010328182025 NC: 2026:KHC:37392 WP No. 14433 of 2025 AGED MAJOR, R/O INJADY MANE SUBRAMANYA VILLAGE, SUBRAMANYA POST, KADABA TALUK, DAKSHINA KANANDA DISTRICT, SUBRAMANYA - 574 238. 8. SRI. SITARAM YADAPADITHAYA (PRADHANA ARCAKARU), S/O KRISHNA YADAPADITHAYA, BAJAKKODI MANE, KOKKADA POST, BELTHANGADY TALUK, DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT - 574 214. 9. SMT. SOUMYA B.K., W/O BHARAT, AGED MAJOR, R/O NO.2-118T, KALLAGUDDE MANE, SUBRAMANYA VILLAGE, KADABA TALUK, DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT, SUBRAMANYA - 574 238. 10. SMT. PRAVEENA P, W/O M.PRASHANT RAI MARUVANJA, AGED MAJOR, R/O MUPPERY VILLAGE, SULIA TALUK, DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT - 574 212. 11. SMT.LEELA MANAMOHANA, W/O LATE MANAMOHANA, AGED MAJOR, - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010328182025 NC: 2026:KHC:37392 WP No. 14433 of 2025 R/O AJJAVARA POST, SULIA TALUK, DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT - 574 239. 12. SRI. ASHOK NEKRAJE, S/O SHESHAPPA GOWDA NEKRAJE, AGED MAJOR, R/O NEKRAJE MANE, ENEKAL VILLAGE, SUBRAMANYA, KADABA TALUK, DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT, SUBRAMANYA - 574 238. 13. SRI. MAHESH KUMAR KARIKALA, S/O K.V.SADASHIVA RAO, AGED MAJOR, R/O KARIKALA POST, PAMBETTADI, SULIA TALUK, DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT - 574 212. 14. SRI. AJITH KUMAR, S/O NEMANNA PUJARI, AGED MAJOR, R/O NO.1-87, PALERI GOLOTHOTHA POST, ALANTAYA KADABA TALUK, DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT - 574 229. 15. SRI. B. RAGHU, S/O PIJINA MERA, AGED MAJOR, R/O SHANTHINAGARA MANE, NAMMA 34, SIKKILADI VILLAGE, - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010328182025 NC: 2026:KHC:37392 WP No. 14433 of 2025 PUTTURU TALUK, DAKSHINA KANNADDA DISTRICT - 574 325. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.D.R.RAVISHANKAR, SENIOR ADVOCATE FOR SRI.P.KARUNAKAR, ADVOCATE FOR R7, R8, R9, R11, R14 & R15; SRI.DEVARAJ C.H., GA FOR R1 TO R6; SRI.KETHAN KUMAR, ADVOCATE FOR R12, R0; SRI.RAJARAM SOORYAMBAIL, ADVOCATE FOR R13) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO CALL FOR THE ENTIRE RECORDS FROM R-2 PERTAINING TO ANNX-A IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 09.05.2025 BEARING NO. HRICA/ADMOADM8/220/2024/E-1501517 PASSED BY R-3 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. The issue in the above matter is as regards the constitution of the Management Committee of Category-1 Temple. 2. The submission of Sri Vivek Reddy, learned Senior Counsel is manifold. - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010328182025 NC: 2026:KHC:37392 WP No. 14433 of 2025 3. But, however, on enquiry as to whether the petitioner was one of the applicants, he fairly submitted that the petitioner was not an applicant, but he is a devotee of the Temple and as such, a devotee would be entitled to raise any issue as regards the appointment of a Management Committee of the respondent No.4-Temple. 4. I am of the considered opinion that the petitioner not being an applicant for being appointed to the Management Committee of the respondent No.4-Temple, he could not have any private lis which could be considered by this Court in the present classification. 5. The lis raised is more in the nature of a public interest, which would have to be adjudicated by the appropriate Bench dealing with Public Interest Litigation. 6. Faced with the above situation, learned counsel for the petitioner seeks permission to convert the above petition to a Public Interest Litigation. 7. Permission is granted. - 7 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010328182025 NC: 2026:KHC:37392 WP No. 14433 of 2025 8. Learned counsel for the petitioner is permitted to comply with the requirements of the High Court Of Karnataka (Public Interest Litigation) Rules,2018. 9. Once such compliance is made, registry is directed to place the matter before the appropriate Bench. 10. For statistical purpose, petition stands disposed of. Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE BSV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 17