Bengaluru: The state government on Thursday withdrew a notification seeking public opinion to include various mutt-controlled religious institutions across Karnataka under the Religious Endowment Department.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah, speaking at the Legislative Council, withdrew the notification soon after Opposition Leader K S Eshwarappa had expressed his reservation over the issue.
Even as the state government withdrew the order, members of BJP in the Council staged a walkout, with opposition leader in the Council, K S Eshwarappa alleging that the circular has hurt the feelings of pontiffs of several mutts.
It can be recalled that the notification comes three years after the state government unsuccessfully tabled the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments(Amendment) Bill, 2014. The Bill was scrapped following opposition from pontiffs of different mutts, who had threatened to take the issue to Congress high command to oust Siddaramaiah.
The notification issued on January 29, had sought an opinion from various pontiffs, administrative committee members of various temples, priests and others.
Siddaramaiah said that the notification was issued, following directions made by the Supreme Court in 2005, after it struck down the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997.
“The court had also directed to make a regulatory body for these institutions, and a similar notification was issued by Justice Rama Jois Committee in 2007. There is no difference between the recent notification and the one issued in 2007,” he said.
However, Eshwarappa disputed the same, stating that while the 2007 notification was by the Committee, the new notification was by the State government.
Earlier, reacting to the government’s measures Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swami of Pejawar Mutt said, “If the government takes charge of my mutt, I will not stay at the mutt and serve society from outside. I cannot be an employee of the government. I cannot serve government. However, I will not fight against the measure, but it is left to the public what they decide.”
Paryaya Palimaru seer Vidyadheesha Tirtha Swami in his release stated said, “the government has its own responsibilities. Instead of doing it efficiently, they should not disturb the smooth running of religious organizations. There are many instances where government organizations have been entrusted to private stakeholders, as they could not manage it successfully. The public will strongly oppose it”.
The government should not forget the past, when they burnt their hands when they tried to take over the Krishna Mutt, added the seer.
Some BJP leaders on Wednesday protested at Vidhana Soudha by tearing the notification and dubbing the proposal as anti-Hindu. BJP leaders R Ashoka and CT Ravi said the government seems to treading the path of colonial rulers by trying to get the power to intervene and take over mutts and temples. They also threatened to launch an agitation.
A seven-member committee is currently suggesting comprehensive changes to the Act to bring mutts and temples under the purview of the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, popularly known as Muzrai Act.
The move to include mutts under the purview of the Act was a fallout of state government’s special leave petition filed before the Supreme Court in connection with a suit involving Sahasra Lingeshwara Swamy Devestan, Uppinangadi in Dakshina Kannada.
As per the legislation, the government can take over a mutt if the head of the institution voluntarily applies for it, or if the mutt has no successor or guardian or it is financially unable to manage the mutt or if there are complaints of mismanagement or irregularities.
