- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010606362026 NC: 2026:KHC:47287 WP No. 27295 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 31ST DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 27295 OF 2026 (GM-R/C) BETWEEN: MR NAGESH S/O LATE NARASIMHA GOWDA AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS, RESIDENT OF BAJAGURU VILLAGE, NONAVINAKERE HOBLI, TIPTUR TALUK, TUMAKURU DISTRICT - 572 224. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAVI T.G., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE (MUZRAI), REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY / UNDER SECRETARY, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. KARNATAKA RAJYA DHARMIKA PARISHAT REPRESENTED BY ITS MEMBER SECRETARY / COMMISSIONER, HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT, 2ND FLOOR, SRI MINTO ANJANEYA BHAVAN, ALUR VENKAT RAO ROAD, CHAMARAJPET, BENGALURU - 560 018. 3. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER TUMAKURU DISTRICT, Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010606362026 NC: 2026:KHC:47287 WP No. 27295 of 2026 DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE, TUMAKURU - 572 101. 4. THE TAHSILDAR AND TALUK MAGISTRATE TIPTUR TALUK, TALUK OFFICE, TIPTUR, TUMAKURU DISTRICT - 572 201. 5. COMMISSIONER HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT, AV ROAD CHAMRAJPETE BENGALURU - 560 018. 6. SRI SHANKARAPPA S/O SHIVANNA, AGED ABOUT 76 YEARS, RESIDENT OF BAJAGURU POST, TIPTUR TALUK, TUMAKURU DISTRICT - 572 224. 7. SRI B.S. SHANMUKHAIAH S/O SHIVANNA, AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS, RESIDENT OF BAJAGURU POST, TIPTUR TALUK, TUMAKURU DISTRICT - 572 224. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. SARITHA KULKARNI, AGA FOR R1 TO R5 VIDE ORDER DATED 31.08.2026, NOTICE TO R6 AND R7 DISPENSED WITH) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO A) ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER, - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010606362026 NC: 2026:KHC:47287 WP No. 27295 of 2026 OR DIRECTION, QUASHING THE OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION / LETTER BEARING NO.DVSCR/22/22-23 DATED 22/05/2026 ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO. 4 VIDE ANNEXURE-A 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. Learned Additional Government Advocate accpets notice for respondent nos.1 to 5. 2. Notice to respondent nos.6 and 7 is dispensed with in view of the proposed order to be passed. 3. Petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: a. ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI or any other appropriate writ, order, or direction, quashing the Official Communication / Letter bearing DNSCR/22/22-23 dated 22/05/2026 issued by Respondent No.4 vide Annexure-A; b. ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI or any other appropriate writ, order, or direction, quashing the Urgent Memo bearing No. D.V.S.C.R / 22 / 22-23 dated 24/08/2026 issued by Respondent No. 4 vide Annexure-B. c. Issue Writ of Mandamus or any other Order or Direction to Consider the Representation dated 24/08/2026 made to Respondent no.3 vide Annexure C - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010606362026 NC: 2026:KHC:47287 WP No. 27295 of 2026 d. ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS directing Respondent No. 3 and Respondent No. 4 to refer the entire dispute regarding the nomenclature and board installation of Sri Ballakere Amma Temple, Bajaguru Village, to Respondent No. 2 (Karnataka Rajya Dharmika Parishat) under Section 20 and Section 20A of the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997; e. Pass such other orders as this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the interest of justice, equity, and the facts of the case. 4. The change of the name of the temple had been challenged in W.A.No.7756/2023, which came to be disposed of on 10.12.2025, rejecting the said challenge. 5. It is challenging the said order in W.P.No.7756/2023 that a writ appeal in W.A.No.2150/2025 has been filed where notice has been issued and the matter is pending consideration. In the meanwhile, one other writ petition had been filed before this Court in W.P.No.9203/2026, which came to be disposed of by this Court on 24.07.2026, taking into account the earlier order passed in W.P.No.7756/2023. 6. When the issue is now sub judice before the Hon'ble Division Bench in W.A.No.2150/2025, the present petition, though filed challenging a subsequent communication by the Tahsildar, in furtherance of - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010606362026 NC: 2026:KHC:47287 WP No. 27295 of 2026 the earlier order passed by this Court, cannot be challenged separately. 7. Reserving liberty to the petitioner to agitate all the issues raised in the present matter by filing appropriate applications in the pending writ appeal, the petition stands disposed. Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE GJM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 25