The Supreme Court on Tuesday firmly instructed the Karnataka government to fully comply with an interim High Court order concerning the Anjaneya Temple at Anjanadri Hills in Koppal, believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. The apex court also allowed petitioner Vidyadas Babaji to continue as the temple’s chief priest (archak) and retain his residence with all prior facilities.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta issued a notice to the state after hearing arguments from advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing Babaji. The court cautioned that any failure to follow the High Court’s interim order dated February 14, 2023, would be treated with seriousness.
The petitioner, a member of the Ramanandi Sampradaya, claimed that his religious order had served at the temple for over 120 years. However, in 2018, the state allegedly took over the temple unlawfully under the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997, and removed him from his priestly duties.
The High Court had earlier restrained officials from interfering with Babaji’s religious services or evicting him, but he alleged continuous harassment — including threats, denial of utilities, and even an attempt to falsely implicate him in a drug case.
On March 16, 2025, officials, including the Koppal Deputy and Assistant Commissioners, allegedly appointed a new priest forcibly and obstructed Babaji’s duties, in violation of court orders. The Supreme Court intervened after the High Court dismissed Babaji’s contempt petition on April 9, 2025.
The SC’s directive aims to protect the petitioner’s fundamental rights under Articles 21 and 25 of the Constitution, encompassing livelihood and religious freedom.
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