NEW DELHI: Supreme Court has entrusted the administration of an ancient and unique Shiva temple in Gokarna, in Karwar district of Karnataka, to former apex court judge B N Srikrishna and the district judge, virtually resulting in the judiciary overseeing management of the temple as opposing groups had created an impasse.
The Gokarna Mahabaleshwara temple, where the principal deity is an ‘atma linga’ believed to be one-of-its-kind in the world, was at the centre of inter-group rivalry which had led to SC appointing an eight-member committee headed by Justice Srikrishna and including deputy commissioner of the district, assistant commissioner of the taluka, SP of the district and four private persons nominated by Karnataka govt.Recently, Justice Srikrishna reported to SC that in the absence of veto power, other members were not allowing the committee to reach a consensus and this stymied the panel’s efforts to oversee administration of the eighth-century temple.
Accepting Justice Srikrishna’s report, a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra inducted the Karwar district judge as vice-chairperson of the committee to aid and assist the chairperson. “It will be open for the chairpersonto authorise him to take emergent decisions with the concurrence of the chairperson,” the bench said.
While giving Justice Srikrishna veto power and relegating the other seven members to mere advisory positions, the bench said, “The chairperson shall have a casting vote in the affairs of the committee. All members of the committee other than the chairperson or the vice-chairperson shall perform advisory roles and shall not have a veto over decisions which are taken by the chairperson and the vice-chairperson. “In taking all appropriate decisions in the interest of the affairs of the trust and the temple, the chairperson and the vice-chairperson shall have due regard to age-old customs and traditions and will be at liberty to seek inputs from the upadivantas and any other eminent persons whom they may wish to consult.”
SC also permitted Congress govt in Karnataka to replace the four private members in the committee, who were chosen by the earlier BJP govt, with new faces. “Above all, the parties must be mindful of the fact that Gokarna Mahabaleshwara temple is a temple of antiquity dating back to the eighth century and all steps for the proper conduct of worship and religious observances should be taken in accordance with traditions,” the bench said.
The Gokarna Mahabaleshwara temple, where the principal deity is an ‘atma linga’ believed to be one-of-its-kind in the world, was at the centre of inter-group rivalry which had led to SC appointing an eight-member committee headed by Justice Srikrishna and including deputy commissioner of the district, assistant commissioner of the taluka, SP of the district and four private persons nominated by Karnataka govt.Recently, Justice Srikrishna reported to SC that in the absence of veto power, other members were not allowing the committee to reach a consensus and this stymied the panel’s efforts to oversee administration of the eighth-century temple.
Accepting Justice Srikrishna’s report, a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra inducted the Karwar district judge as vice-chairperson of the committee to aid and assist the chairperson. “It will be open for the chairpersonto authorise him to take emergent decisions with the concurrence of the chairperson,” the bench said.
While giving Justice Srikrishna veto power and relegating the other seven members to mere advisory positions, the bench said, “The chairperson shall have a casting vote in the affairs of the committee. All members of the committee other than the chairperson or the vice-chairperson shall perform advisory roles and shall not have a veto over decisions which are taken by the chairperson and the vice-chairperson. “In taking all appropriate decisions in the interest of the affairs of the trust and the temple, the chairperson and the vice-chairperson shall have due regard to age-old customs and traditions and will be at liberty to seek inputs from the upadivantas and any other eminent persons whom they may wish to consult.”
SC also permitted Congress govt in Karnataka to replace the four private members in the committee, who were chosen by the earlier BJP govt, with new faces. “Above all, the parties must be mindful of the fact that Gokarna Mahabaleshwara temple is a temple of antiquity dating back to the eighth century and all steps for the proper conduct of worship and religious observances should be taken in accordance with traditions,” the bench said.