- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010563722025 NC: 2026:KHC:49839 WP No. 26107 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA WRIT PETITION NO. 26107 OF 2025 (GM-R/C) BETWEEN: NAVEEN RAJ URS S/O LATE B.P.SHESHADRI RAJ URS, AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, HEREDITARY DHARAMADARSHI. SRI KALBIGIRIBIGIRI RANGANATHASWAMY TEMPLE, BELAGUTTI, HONNALI TALUK, DAVANAGERE DISTRICT-577223 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SREEDHAR K.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, REVENUE DEPARTMENT, M.S.BUILDING, BANGALORE -560001 2. THE RAJYA DHARMIKA PARISHATH, REPRESENTED BY ITS COMMISSIONER CUM EX-OFFICIO SECRETARY AND THE RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT COMMISSIONER, CHAMARAJPET, BANGALORE-560018 3. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010563722025 NC: 2026:KHC:49839 WP No. 26107 of 2025 DAVANAGERE DISTRICT, DAVANAGERE-577002 4. THE ASST. COMMISSIONER, DAVANAGERE SUB DIVISION, DAVANAGERE-577002 5. THE TAHSILDAR, NYAMATI TALUK, DAVANAGERE DISTRICT-577217 6. B P KRISHNARAJ URS, S/O SRINIVAS RAJ URS, AGED ABOUT 75 YEARS, REPRESENTED BY ITS POA HOLDER K R KRISHNAMURTHY S/O LATE K RAMAPPA, AGED ABOUT 59 YRS, R/O BELAGUTTI VILLAGE, HONNALI TALUK, DAVANAGER DISTRICT-577223 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. M MADHUSUDHAN, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. V. VISHWANATH SHETTY, ADVOCATE FOR C/R6 SRI. HARISH A S, AGA FOR R1,R3,R4 & R5 SRI. HARISHCHANDRA M, ADVOCATE FR R2) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED ORDER OF THE R2 BEARING NO. RDP/TRI 3/2013-14 DATED 25.04.2025 VIDE ANNEXURE -Y AND ALSO ENDORSEMENT DATED 22.07.2025 BEARING NO. DVSCR/20/2025-26 VIDE ANNEXURE-Z PASSED BY R5 AS THE SAME ARE ILLEGAL ARBITRARY AND UNSUSTAINABLE AND GRANT THE PRAYER MADE IN APPLN. NO. RDP/TRI-3/2013-14 BEFORE THE R2 BY GRANTING DHARMADARSHI POST OF SRI KALBIGIRI. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010563722025 NC: 2026:KHC:49839 WP No. 26107 of 2025 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA ORAL ORDER The present writ petition is filed seeking for the following reliefs: " a) Issue a writ in the name of certiary by quashing the Impugned order of the 2nd respondent bearing No.RDP/TRI 3/2013-14 dated 25/04/2025 vide Annexure-Y and also Endorsement dated 22/07/2025 bearing No.DVSCR/20/2025-26 vide Annexure-Z passed by 5th respondent as the same are illegal, arbitrary and unsustainable and grant the prayer made in Appln.No.RDP/TRI/3/2013-14 before the 2nd respondent by granting Dharmadarshi post of Sri Kalbigiri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Belagutti, Honnali Taluk, Davanagere District to the petitioner. b) Pass such other orders as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit in the circumstances of the case, including the award of the costs of this petition, in the interest justice and equity." 2. In view of the fact that the impugned order dated 25.04.2025 (Annexure-Y to the writ petition) is passed under Section 63A of the Hindu Religions Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 19971 and since a remedy of appeal is available under Section 63A(2) of the Act, the present writ 1 Hereinafter referred to as the 'Act' Digitally Signed by CHEPPUDIRA MONNAPPA POONACHA - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010563722025 NC: 2026:KHC:49839 WP No. 26107 of 2025 petition is disposed of reserving liberty to the petitioner to avail the remedy of appeal as noticed above. 3. In the event, the appeal is filed on or before 05.10.2026, the same shall be entertained without raising any objection as to the delay/limitation. 4. The original records/certified copies be returned to the parties/learned counsels upon the same being replaced with copies thereof. (C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE ND List No.: 1 Sl No.: 64 Digitally Signed by CHEPPUDIRA MONNAPPA POONACHA