- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010077712015 NC: 2026:KHC:42942-DB WA No. 4562 of 2015 C/W WA No. 4920 of 2015 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN WRIT APPEAL NO. 4562 OF 2015 (GM-R/C) C/W WRIT APPEAL NO. 4920 OF 2015 (GM-R/C) IN WA No. 4562/2015: BETWEEN: 1. SRI. C H NARAYANASWAMY, S/O LATE C H VENKATARAMANAPPA, AGED MAJOR, R/O GULLAPET, KOLAR-563 101 2. SRI. THIPPARAJAIAH, S/O LATE MUDDARAMAIAH SHETTY, AGED MAJOR, R/O BRAHMIN STREET, KOLAR-563 101. 3. SMT. SUNANDAMMA, W/O DORESWAMYAR, AGED MAJOR, R/O SAMBASHANKAR STREET, KOLAR-563 101. 4. SRI. GOPAL S/O RAMAKRISHNAPPA, AGED MAJOR, R/O SHANTHINAGAR,KOLAR-563 101. Digitally signed by MALA K N Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010077712015 NC: 2026:KHC:42942-DB WA No. 4562 of 2015 C/W WA No. 4920 of 2015 5. SRI. MUNIVENKATAPPA S/O VENKATARAMANAPPA, AGE MAJOR, R/O OPP: JAIL, KOTE, KOLAR-563 101. 6. SMT.SAROJAMMA, W/O CHENNAPPA, AGED MAJOR, R/O BEHIND PALLAVI THEATRE, KOLAR-563 101 7. SRI SRINIVASA MAISTRY S/O VARADARAJU, AGED MAJOR, R/O KOLARAMMA BADAVANE, KOLAR-563 101 8. SRI. NAGARAJ, S/O LATE MUNIVENKATAPPA, AGED MAJOR, R/O P C EXTENSION, 2ND CROSS, BEHIND MINI HOTEL, KOLAR-563 101. …APPELLANTS (BY SRI. ARPITH R REDDY., ADVOCATE FOR SRI. K N SUBBA REDDY.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE COMMISSIONER, HINDU RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS, MALAI MAHADESHWARA BHAVAN, ALYUR VENKATA RAO ROAD, CHAMARAJPET, BANGALORE - 560 018. 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KOLAR DISTRICT, - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010077712015 NC: 2026:KHC:42942-DB WA No. 4562 of 2015 C/W WA No. 4920 of 2015 KOLAR-563 101. 3. THE TAHSILDAR, KOLAR DISTRICT, KOLAR-563 101. 4. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER KOLAR SUB-DIVISION, KOLAR-563 101. 5. SUPERINTENDING ARCHAEOLOGIST ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA, BANGALORE-560 002. 6. SRI. K M CHANDRAPPA AGED: MAJOR, CMC COUNCILLOR, KANAKANAPALYA, KOLAR-563 101. 7. SRI. PRAKASH, S/O LATE CHIKKANNA, AGED: MAJOR, CMC COUNCILLOR, KEELUKOTE, KOLAR-563 101. 8. SRI. CHANDRASHEKHARA DIXIT S/O ARCHAK SOMAIAH, AGED: MAJOR, PRADHAN ARCHAK, SRI KOLARAMMA AND SRI SOMESHWARA TEMPLES, FORT, SHANKARAMUTT ROAD, KOLAR-563 101. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. N BYRE GOWDA., AGA FOR R1 TO R4; SRI. S RAJASHEKAR., ADVOCATE FOR R5; APPEAL STANDS DISMISSED AGAINST R6 & R7 V.C.O DATED 30.01.2023; SERVICE OF NOTICE TO R3 HELD SUFFICIENT V.C.O DATED 08.07.2019; - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010077712015 NC: 2026:KHC:42942-DB WA No. 4562 of 2015 C/W WA No. 4920 of 2015 R8 SERVED) THIS WRIT APPEAL FILED U/S 4 OF THE KARNATAKA HIGH COURT ACT PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER PASSED IN THE WRIT PETITION 25581/2009 DATED 04/09/2015. IN WA NO. 4920/2015: BETWEEN: SUPERINTENDING ARCHEOLOGIST ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA, BENGALURU-560 034. ...APPELLANT (BY SRI.S RAJASHEKAR.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE COMMISSIONER HINDU RELIGIOUS & CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS MALAI MAHADESWARA BHAVAN, AALUR VENKATA RAO ROAD, CHAMARAJPET, BANGALORE-560 018. 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KOLAR DISTRICT, KOLAR-563 101, 3. THE TAHASILDAR KOLAR TALUK, KOLAR-563 101. 4. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER KOLAR SUB-DIVISION, KOLAR-563 101. 5. SRI C H NARAYANASWAMY S/O.LATE C.H.VENKATARAMANAPPA, GULLPET, KOLAR-563 101. - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010077712015 NC: 2026:KHC:42942-DB WA No. 4562 of 2015 C/W WA No. 4920 of 2015 6. SRI THIPPARAJAIAH S/O.LATE MUDDARAMAIAH SHETTY, BRAHMIN STREET, KOLAR-563 101. 7. SMT. SUNDANDAMMA W/O.DORESWAMYAR, SAMBASHANKAR STREET, KOLAR-563 101. 8. SRI. GOPAL, S/O.RAMAKRISHNAPPA, SHANTHINAGAR, KOLAR-563 101. 9. SRI.MUNIVENKATAPPA S/O.VENKATARAMANAPPA, R/O.OPP. JAIL, KOTE, KOLAR-563 101. 10. SMT. SAROJAMMA W/O.CHENNAPPA, R/O.BEHIND PALLAVI THEATRE, KOLAR-563 101. 11. SRI. SRINIVASA MURTHY S/O.VARADARAJU, R/O.KOLARAMMA BADAVANE, KOLAR-563 101. 12. SRI. NAGARAJ S/O.LATE MUNIVENKATAPPA, P.C.EXTENSION, 2ND CROSS, BEHIND MINI HOTEL, KOLAR-563 101. 13. SRI. K M CHANDRAPPA CMC COUNCILOR, KANAKANAPALYA, KOLAR-563 101. - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010077712015 NC: 2026:KHC:42942-DB WA No. 4562 of 2015 C/W WA No. 4920 of 2015 14. SRI PRAKASH CMC COUNCILOR, S/O.LATE CHIKKANNA, KEELUKOTE, KOLAR-563 101. 15. SRI CHANDRASEKHARA DIXIT S/O.ARCHAK SOMAIAH, PRADHAN ARCHAK, SRI KOLARAMMA AND SRI SOMESWARA TEMPLES FORT, SHANKARMATT ROAD, KOLAR-563 101. ...RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. N BYRE GOWDA., AGA FOR R1 TO R4; SRI. MUDIT KUNDLIA., ADVOCATE FO R5 –R15) THIS WRIT APPEAL FILED U/S 4 OF THE KARNATAKA HIGH COURT ACT PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER PASSED IN THE WRIT PETITION 25581/2009 DATED 04/09/2015. THESE APPEALS COMING ON FOR HEARING, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH AND HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN ORAL JUDGMENT (PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH) The present Intra-Court Appeal has been filed impugning the judgment and order dated 04.09.2015 passed by the Writ Court in Writ Petition No.25581/2009 - 7 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010077712015 NC: 2026:KHC:42942-DB WA No. 4562 of 2015 C/W WA No. 4920 of 2015 (GM-R/C). The said writ petition was filed by the Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments against the order dated 17.04.2009 passed by the Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India, denying the permission for installation of Hundi and collection of Seva fee in the Kolaramma and Shree Someswara Temples, which are Muzarai Institutions under the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institution and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997. These temples are also monuments protected by Archaeological Survey of India. The Superintendent Archaeologist of Archaeological Survey of India misunderstood installation of Hundis and collection of Seva fee in these temples as a violation of the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and Rules made thereunder. 2. The learned Single Judge has considered every aspect in detail and has allowed the writ petition as the installation of Hundis and fixing Seva fee does not alter the structure or put any further construction in the - 8 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010077712015 NC: 2026:KHC:42942-DB WA No. 4562 of 2015 C/W WA No. 4920 of 2015 structure of the temples, which are archaeologically surveyed and protected monuments. 3. We are, therefore, of the view that the impugned judgment and order passed by the learned Single Judge does not require any interference. However, we make it clear that nobody would be entitled to alter or put any further construction on these temples, except for regular maintenance without any permission from the Archaeological Survey of India. 4. With the above said observation, both these appeals stand dismissed. Sd/- (D K SINGH) JUDGE Sd/- (H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN) JUDGE KNM List No.: 2 Sl No.: 10