- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4522 WP No. 38662 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 38662 OF 2025 (GM-R/C) BETWEEN: THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT SRI VENKATARAMANASWAMY TEMPLE, BANGARU TIRUPATHI (GUTTAHALLI), K.G.F. TALUK, KOLAR DISTRICT, R/AT HULKUR VILLAGE, K.G.F. TALUK, KOLAR DISTRICT-563 116, REP. BY ITS PRESIDENT SRI ASHOK KRISHNAPPA …PETITIONER (BY SRI.R.SUBRAMANYA, ADVOCATE FOR SRI.ARAVINDA S N., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE (MUZRAI), M.S. BUILDING, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560 001 REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY 2. THE MEMBER SECRETARY, RAJYA DHARMIKA PARISHAD AND COMMISSIONER FOR HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS, 4TH FLOOR, SRI MINTO ANJANEYA SWAMY BHAVAN, ALUR VENKATARAO ROAD, CHAMARAJAPET, BENGALURU - 560 018 Digitally signed by VANAMALA N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4522 WP No. 38662 of 2025 3. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS, KOLAR DISTRICT, D.C. OFFICE COMPLEX, KOLAR-563 101. 4. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS, KOLAR SUB-DIVISION, D.C. OFFICE COMPLEX, KOLAR-563 101. 5. THE ADDITIONAL DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KOLAR DISTRICT, OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, MULBAGAL ROAD, KOLAR-563 131. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.B.RAVINDRANATH, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO A) QUASHING THE OFFICIAL MEMORANDUM DATED 06.12.2025 BEARING NO.HRICE-ADM0ADM8/165/ 2022/E-851750 ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT APPOINTING THE 5TH RESPONDENT AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF SRI VENKATARAMANASWAMY TEMPLE, BANGARU TIRUPATHI, GUTTAHALLI VILLAGE, BANGARPET TALUK, - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4522 WP No. 38662 of 2025 KOLAR DISTRICT VIDE ANNEXURE-A. B) ISSUE A WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATION DATED 29.11.2025 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER BEARING NO.SRI VEN.DE.BAM.TI (GU).C.R.08/2025-26 VIDE ANNEXURE-B FOR APPOINTMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT TO SRI VENKATARAMANASWAMY TEMPLE, BANGARU TIRUPATHI (GUTTAHALLI), K.G.F. TALUK, KOLAR DISTRICT FORTHWITH VIDE ANNEXURE-B. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4522 WP No. 38662 of 2025 ORAL ORDER The petitioner is a Committee of Management constituted under Section 25 of the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997 [for short, the Act] for overseeing of Sri Venkataramanaswamy Temple, Bangaru Tirupathi, Guttahalli, KGF Taluk, Kolar District, and the petitioner is aggrieved by the second respondent's decision to appoint an Administrator. The second respondent's decision in this regard is on 06.12.2025 [as per Annexure-A]. 2. This Court, on 26.12.2025, has permitted the petitioner to conduct the religious celebrations on 29.12.2025 and other dates, but without the financial assistance from the public exchequer. Sri R. Subramanya, the learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that the application [IA. 1/2026] is filed for permission to hold religious activities and host celebrations in the temple with the financial - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4522 WP No. 38662 of 2025 assistance because the temple is a Class-A notified temple. On the merits of the petitioner's grievance with Annexure-A, the learned counsel submits that the Administrator is appointed in exercise of powers under Section 29 of the Act on the expiry of the term of the petitioner on 08.12.2025, and if a new Committee of Management is constituted at the earliest, the petitioner's grievance would be addressed especially if there is an interregnum arrangement for the conduct of the religious activities and hosting religious celebrations under the petitioner's stewardship subject to the financial oversee by the Administrator appointed. Sri B. Ravindranath, the learned Additional Government Advocate, is heard in the light of these circumstances. 3. The provisions of Section 29 of the Act empowers the appointment of any officer of the State Government as an Administrator in the place of the - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4522 WP No. 38662 of 2025 Committee of Management, amongst other reasons, on the expiry of the term of office of such Committee and until a new Committee is constituted subject to a period of six months. The provisions further stipulate that the appointment can be for a maximum period of six months and that tenure could be extended by another period of six months provided the reasons are recorded in writing. 4. The second respondent has appointed an Administrator only because of the expiry of the term of the Committee of Management, and the second respondent should have simultaneously, if not very contemporaneously, commenced the process for the constitution of the Committee of Management so that the new Committee is in place within the first period of six months. This Court must observe that the crucial facts such as that the petitioner is a Class-A temple which is admitted to certain financial benefits by the State Government is not in dispute. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4522 WP No. 38662 of 2025 In the light of the afore, the petition and the pending application stands disposed of directing the second respondent to initiate measures for constitution of the Committee of Management at the earliest and stipulating that until a new Committee of Management is constituted, the petitioner shall oversee all the religious activities and host the religious celebrations at the temple but subject to the Administrator overseeing all financial decisions. Sd/- (B M SHYAM PRASAD) JUDGE NV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 36