ORDER :

1. The arguments in these cases were commenced by the learned senior counsel Sri C.R. Sridharan in W.P. (PIL) No. 231 of 2020. Sri W.B. Srinivas, learned senior counsel argued on behalf of the petitioners in other two Writ Petitions. Learned Advocate General argued on behalf of the respondent-State.

2. W.P. (PIL) No. 231 of 2020 is preferred by a person claiming to be a devotee and a person interested in the Ahobilam Math and Temple. The petitioner prays for any writ, order or direction, more particularly, one in the nature of a writ of quo warranto questioning the authority of the 2nd respondent in appointing the 3rd respondent as Executive Officer of Sri Ahobila Mutt Parampara Aadheena Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam and the authority by which the 2nd respondent has directed the 3rd respondent to change the age-old traditional administration in the name of Srivan Satagopa Sri to the one under the name and seal of the 3rd respondent and to quash the appointment order as well as order to operate bank accounts in the name and seal of the 3rd respondent thereby restoring the tradition of administration and operation of bank accounts by the Jeeyar of Sri Ahobila Mutt.

3. The prayer in W.P. No. 5105 of 2019 is for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the 2nd respondent in imposing the 3rd respondent-Executive Officer in the administration of Ahobilam Devasthanam, which is under the management of Ahobilam Math, as unconstitutional, being ultra vires of the Act 30 of 1987, without jurisdiction, arbitrary, illegal and violative of the fundamental rights of the devotees of the Ahobilam Temple.

4. The prayer in W.P. No. 806 of 2021 is for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the 2nd respondent in appointing the 3rd respondent as Executive Officer vide proceedings Rc. No. E2/15021/202/2020 dated 30.12.2020 and imposing the administration of the 3rd respondent on Ahobilam Devasthanam which is under the management of Ahobilam Math.

5. It is stated in the writ affidavit in W.P. (PIL) No. 231 of 2020 that Ahobilam Temple has been under the control of Sri Ahobilam Mutt since time immemorial. The details and history of Ahobilam Temple has been described in the following manner:

“According to Brahmanda Purana, Ahobilam is the place where the Lord Ahobila Narasimha Swamy killed the demon Hiranya Kasipu and after saving Prahlada took oath on him to live in a cave in Ahobila Kshetram on the banks of river Bhavanashini near Gajakundam and ordered Prahlada to stay before him.”

“The Lord who saved Prahlada and took the oath on himself to reside in a cave in Ahobilam, appeared before Sri Kidambi Srinivasacharya, gave Sanyasa Deeksha, a ritual that is needed to become the Jeeyar (pontiff), and the authority to administer Ahobilam Mutt temple to him. The Lord also handed over the idol of Lord Malola Narasimha Swamy with Lakshmi (Utsava Moorthy) to the Jeeyar with instructions to carry the idol with him and spread the philosophy of Sri Vaishnavisam and do Prapatti to his followers. Prapatti is a ritual which would help the inner soul to render services to God once the person leaves this material world. As the First Jeeyar of Sri Ahobila Mutt got the Sanyasa Deeksha and temple administration directly from the Lord, Sri Kidambi Srinivasacharya was called by the name Sri Narasimha Jeeyar or Srimad Azhagiyasinghar, which in Tamil means beautiful lion. Receiving the orders of the Lord, Sri Narasimha Jeeyar traveled from Ahobilam to Alwar Thirunagari and installed Nammalwar Vigraham there. For this great service, Sri Narasimha Jeeyar was honoured with Hamsa Mudra of Nammalwar and the title Sri Adivan Satagopa Yatheendra Mahadesikan.”

“Successive Jeeyars of Sri Ahobila Mutt are the trustees to Sri Ahobila Mutt Parampara Aadheena Sri Lakshmi Swamy Ahobilam Devasthanam since then in succession continuously without