- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:909 WP No. 100517 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI WRIT PETITION NO. 100517 OF 2026 (GM-CPC) BETWEEN: SHRI MUDRI SHIVAMMA DEVI DEVASTHANA TRUST (R) REGISTERED UNDER INDIAN TRUST ACT, 1882, REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORIZED TRUSTEE PRAVEEN MESTA, AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS, S/O. VASUDEV ANANT MESTA, REGISTERED OFFICE AT SURVEY NO.57/*/1/3, DEVARAKATTE, KULKODA VILLAGE, MAVINAKURVA HOBLI, HONNAVAR TALUK-581334, UTTARA KANNADA DISTRICT. - PETITIONER (BY SRI. CHETAN MUNNOLI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. SURESH LINGA MESTA, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, S/O. LINGA MESTA, RESIDING AT M G ROAD, PRABATH NAGAR, HONNAVAR TALUK-581334. 2. VENKATESH DAMU MESTA, AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS, S/O. DAMU MESTA, RESIDING AT MURUKATTE, HONNAVAR TALUK-581334. 3. UDAY LINGA MESTA, AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS, S/O. LINGA MESTA, RESIDING AT KULKODA, MAVINKURVA HOBLI, HONNAVAR TALUK-581334. 4. DAMODAR HONNAPPA MESTA, AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS, S/O. HONNAPPA MESTA, RESIDING AT KULKODA, MAVINKURVA HOBLI, HONNAVAR TALUK-581334. 5. AKASH VAMAN MESTA, Digitally signed by VIJAYALAKSHMI M KANKUPPI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:909 WP No. 100517 of 2026 AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS S/O VAMAN LINGA MESTA, RESIDING AT KULKODA, MAVINKURVA HOBLI, HONNAVAR TALUK-581334. 6. RADHAKRISHNA @ SANDESH MESTA, AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS, S/O. DAMODAR HONNAPPA MESTA, RESIDING AT KULKODA, HONNAVAR TALUK-581334. 7. PURSHOTHAM NAGESH MESTA, AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS, S/O. NAGESH MESTA, RESIDING AT UPPER PLOT, HONNAVAR TALUK-581334. - RESPONDENTS THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 227 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER, OR DIRECTION, BY DIRECTING THE PRINCIPAL CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, HONNAVAR (NOW THE IN-CHARGE COURT OF THE ADDITIONAL CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, HONNAVAR), TO DISPOSE OF I.A. NOS.3 AND 4, FILED UNDER ORDER XXXIX RULES 1 AND 2 READ WITH SECTION 151 OF THE CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, 1908 AS AMENDED VIDE ANNEXURES-D AND E WITHIN TIME FIXED BY THIS HON’BLE COURT AND FURTHER CONSEQUENTLY, ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER, OR DIRECTION, BY DIRECTING THE PRINCIPAL CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, HONNAVAR (NOW THE IN-CHARGE COURT OF THE ADDITIONAL CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, HONNAVAR), TO DISPOSE OF I.A. NOS.7, FILED UNDER SECTION 151 OF THE CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, 1908 AS AMENDED VIDE ANNEXURE - H WITHIN TIME FIXED BY THIS HON’BLE COURT, WHEREBY THE SAID APPLICATION IS FILED SEEKING RETURN OF ORNAMENTS OF SHRI DEVI FOR CONDUCTING VARDANTHI AND OTHER RITUALS OF SHRI DEVI BETWEEN 18.02.2026 AND 24.02.2026 AND ETC.,. THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:909 WP No. 100517 of 2026 ORAL ORDER The present writ petition is filed seeking the following reliefs: 1. Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction, by directing the Principal Civil Judge and JMFC, Honnavar (now the in-charge Court of the Additional Civil Judge and JMFC, Honnavar), to dispose of I.A. Nos. 3 and 4 filed under Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2 read with Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 as amended vide ANNEXURES-D and E within time fixed by this Hon’ble Court. 2. further consequently, issue a writ in the nature of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order, or direction, by directing the Principal Civil Judge and JMFC, Honnavar (now the in-charge Court of the Additional Civil Judge and JMFC, Honnavar), to dispose of I.A. No. 7 filed under Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 as amended vide ANNEXURE-H within time fixed by this Hon’ble Court, whereby the said application is filed seeking return of ornaments of Shri Devi for conducting Vardhanthi and other rituals of Shri Devi between 18.02.2026 and 24.02.2026. 3. and grant the petitioner such other and further reliefs as this Hon’ble Court deems fit under the circumstances of the case. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:909 WP No. 100517 of 2026 2. It is submitted that for the purpose of conducting the Vardhanti of Sri Mudri Shivamma Devi Temple between 18.02.2026 and 24.02.2006 and also during the Dasara and Pallaki Utsav they filed the applications. It is submitted that in view of the urgency there may be a direction to the Trial Court to consider the IA Nos. 3, 4 and 7 on their merits. 3. Considering the reasons stated, there shall be direction to the learned Prl. Civil Judge and JMFC Court, Honnavar, who is requested to consider these applications on their merits as expeditiously as possible, but not later than 18.02.2026. Writ petition is accordingly disposed of. All IAs in this petition stands closed. Sd/- JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI BVV CT: UMD List No.: 1 Sl No.: 48