ORDER

These two petitions seek to lay a challenge to the Government Order dated 13.12.2022 whereby, the Respondent-Mr. P.S. Vastrad, a retired IAS officer, has been appointed as the Administrator for the Mutt & the institutions run by it. W.P.No.25316/2022 is filed by the Vidya Peetha, represented by its President, and the Mutt is represented by its Pontiff Dr. Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru through the GPA holder Sri. Basavaprabhuswamigalu. W.P.No.25318/2022 is filed by three individuals who claim to be the devotees of Mutt.

2. The operative portion of the order reads as under :

The Government specifically mentions that this Order has been made in exercise of the power availing under Articles 162 & 31A of the Constitution of India inter alia for safeguarding the movable & immovable properties of the Mutt and to prevent misappropriation of funds of the institution and further, to conduct the overall management effectively inasmuch as the Pontiff has been facing criminal cases is in judicial custody since 1.9.2022.

3. After service of notice, the State & its officials have entered ap