- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010558602026 NC: 2026:KHC:43278 WP No. 25187 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 13TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO.25187 OF 2026 (GM-R/C) BETWEEN: 1. MR. HARIPRASAD, S/O BABU SHETTY, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, R/AT NO.2-1234, NELLIKATTE HOUSE, RAILWAY STATION ROAD, PUTTUR - 574 201. 2. MRS.RATHNA K, W/O LATE. CHANDRASHEKARA K M., AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, R/AT NO.1-105/12, RACHITHA NILAYA, DHUMAVATHI ROAD, PUTTUR, NEHARUNAGARA - 574 203. 3. MR. HARISH KUMAR M., S/O NARAYANA, AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, R/AT 6-23, MINIPADAVU HOUSE, ARYAPU, KAIKARA - 574 210. 4. MR. PADMANABHA G., S/O VISHWANATHA G, AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS, Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010558602026 NC: 2026:KHC:43278 WP No. 25187 of 2026 R/AT NO.9-2-507-13, PAVAMANA NIVASA HANDRATTA, NEAR RAILWAY STATION, PADEEL, PUTTUR - 574 201. 5. MR. K. ANIL KUMAR, S/O K VEERAPPA POOJARY, AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS, R/AT NO.1-54, KANNARNOOJI HOUSE, MUNDOOR POST AND VILLAGE, PUTTUR - 574 202. 6. MR. RAJESH J., S/O KRISHNA MANIYANI, AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS, R/AT NATTOJI COMPOUND, NEAR OLD TRAFFIC POLICE STATION, PUTTUR - 574 201. 7. MR. P. SHRIDHARA, S/O LATE SHESHAPPA POOJARY, AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS, R/AT 1-57 E, ATHREYA NILAYA, MUNDOOR POST, PUTTUR - 574 202. 8. MR. VASUDEVA ACHARYA S, S/O SHIVANNA ACHARYA, AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS, R/AT NO.1-150/2, SANKESHA HOUSE, ANANTHADI VILLAGE AND PANCHAYATH, BANTWAL TALUK - 574 253. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010558602026 NC: 2026:KHC:43278 WP No. 25187 of 2026 9. MR. BALACHANDRA S., S/O MONAPPA NAIKA, AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS, R/AT BHAVISH NIVAS, KUREMAJAL, PUTTUR - 574 202. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. AJAY PRABHU M., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND ENDOWMENT FUND, 4TH FLOOR, MINTO SHRI ANJANEYA BHAVAN, AALOORU VENKATA RAO ROAD, CHAMRAJPET, BENGALURU - 18. 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND ENDOWMENT FUND, D.K., MANGALURU - 575 001. 3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND ENDOWMENT FUND, D.K., MANGALURU - 575 001. 4. THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SRI MAHALINGESHWARA TEMPLE, PUTTUR TALUK, PUTTUR, D.K.- 574 201. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010558602026 NC: 2026:KHC:43278 WP No. 25187 of 2026 5. THE PRESIDENT, THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT, SRI MAHALINGESHWARA TEMPLE, PUTTUR TALUK, PUTTUR, D.K.- 574 201. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. DEVARAJ C.H., GA FOR STATE) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO A. ISSUE WRIT OF MANDAMUS IN THE NATURE OF DIRECTION TO THE RESPONDENTS RECONSIDER THE PROPOSAL OF FORMATION OF 30 FEET ROAD ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THE TEMPLE AFTER ISSUING PUBLIC NOTICE REGARDING PROPOSED FORMATION OF ADDITIONAL ROAD AND AFTER SEEKING SUGGESTIONS OR INPUTS FROM DEVOTEES AND GENERAL PUBLIC BY CONSIDERING THE REPRESENTATION DATED 28.07.2026 TO RESPONDENT NO.1 AND 2, REPRESENTATION DATED 03.08.2026 TO RESPONDENT NO.5 BY CONSIDERING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PETITIONERS HEREIN AS PER ANNEXURE - A TO A3 AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010558602026 NC: 2026:KHC:43278 WP No. 25187 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. Learned Government Advocate accepts notice for the respondents. 2. The petitioners are before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: (i) Issue writ of mandamus in the nature of direction to the Respondents reconsider the proposal of formation of 30 feet road on the southern side of the temple after issuing public notice regarding proposed formation of additional road and after seeking suggestions or inputs from devotees and general public by considering the representation dated 28.07.2026 to Respondent No.1 and 2, Representation dated 03.08.2026 to Respondent No.5 by considering the representations of the Petitioners herein as per ANNEXURE-A to A3. (ii) Grant such other and further relief deems fit by this Hon'ble court in the facts and circumstances of the case. 3. The petition has been filed in public interest. Based on the same, learned counsel for the petitioners seeks permission to convert the above petition into public interest litigation. Reserving liberty to do so, the above petition is disposed of for statistical purpose directing - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010558602026 NC: 2026:KHC:43278 WP No. 25187 of 2026 registry to re-number as per the public interest litigation classification. Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE SMJ List No.: 1 Sl No.: 18