Court upholds move to codify rituals

suchandra · August 5, 2008

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5 Aug 2008, 0252 hrs IST,TNN

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Court_upholds_move_to_codify_rituals/articleshow/3326391.cms

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Monday upheld the order of a single judge on codification of rituals in the cave shrine at Dattatreya Peetha in Bababudangiri of Chikmagalur district and directed the commissioner (religious charities) to undertake the codification process at the earliest after hearing all parties concerned.

Single judge H G V Ramesh had observed in his order of Feb 14, 2007 that the commissioner should consider the

grievances of the petitioners as to the practice which was prevailing in Datta Peetha from time immemorial and to recognize the rights regarding the offering of puja to the paduka of Swami Dattatreya as per the religious custom of Hindu devotees.

The court then directed the commissioner to consider reports submitted by the assistant commissioner and take steps to appoint archakas if needed. In his final decision, the judge also directed the official to allow Hindu religious customs and ceremonies as practised prior to June 1975 and also prior to anointing of Shakhadris in the Hyder Ali period.

While dismissing the government contention, the division Bench headed by acting Chief Justice Deepak observed on Monday, "No case for interference is made out. After all, nothing has been decided by the single Bench on merits except the matter has been remitted back to decide the issue after having given opportunity to both sides. The commissioner (religious charities) shall carry out the directive as contemplated in the single Bench's order at an early date. Appeal dismissed."

In his 2007 order, Justice Ramesh cancelled subsequent orders passed by authorities and ordered recodification of the rituals. But the then government headed by H D Kumaraswamy appealed.

While the government contended there was no need for the single Bench to pass this order as there was a February 25, 1989 order of the commissioner and it was not challenged by anyone, Guru Dattattreya Peetha Samvardhana Samiti, a petitioner, contended that that order left out some Hindu rituals, particularly according special respect to Mathadhipathis , provision for offerings, appointment of archakas and some Hindu rituals.

Several Shakhadris had also moved court challenging codification of rituals as interference. While codifying the rituals in 1989, the muzrai commissioner specified that the mujavar in the cave shrine alone can light the nandadeepa and incense sticks and offer flowers to the Datta silver sandal.

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