IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 11^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO. 5987 OF 2026 (GM-R/C)

BETWEEN:

B.R.VENUGOPALA BHATTAR S/O LATE RANGANTHA BHATTAR AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS CHIEF PRIEST, SRI RAMANJANEYA TEMPLE, K.R CIRCLE, VIDHAN STREET, BANGALORE-560001.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI. VASANTH ADITHYA.J., ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY CHIEF SECRETARY VIDHANA SOUDHA, Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI BENGALURU- 560001 B Location: High Court of Karnataka 2. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, P.W.D., SECTION, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU- 560001

3. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, REVENUE SECTION, VIDHANA SOUDHA.

BENGALURU- 560001

4. THE PRINCIPAL. SECRETARY, MUZARAI. SECTION, VIDHANA SOUDHA BENGALURU. 560001

5. THE COMMISSIONER OF MUZARAI DEPARTMENT, 2 AND 3 FLOOR, MAHADESHWARA VARTHA BHAVAN, VENKATRAO ROAD, CHAMRAJPET, BANGALORE. 560018

6. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, BENGALURU CENTRAL DISTRICT BANGALORE. 560009

7. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER BENGALURU CENTRAL, BENGALURU. 560009 8. THE TAHASILDAR BENGALURU CENTRAL BANGALORE. 560009

9. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE BENGALURU 560001 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. K.P.YOGANNA, AGA)

THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS RESTRAINING THE RESPONDENTS FROM PROCEEDING WITH ANY FURTHER CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROPOSED DHARMIKA SOUDHA BUILDING WITHIN THE PREMISES OF THE SRI RAMANJANEYA TEMPLE, AS THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PLAN DIRECTLY AND MATERIALLY OBSTRUCTS THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE OF THE ANNUAL CHARIOT FESTIVAL (RATHA SAPTHAMI MAHOTSAVA)

(ANNEXURE-C)

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM

ORAL ORDER

The petitioner in the present writ petition is aggrieved by the alleged inaction on the part of the respondent–authorities in not considering the representation dated 10.02.2026. The grievance of the petitioner pertains to the construction of a Dharmika Soudha within the temple premises by the Muzrai Board, which according to the petitioner commenced on 09.02.2026. It is the specific case of the petitioner that the construction activity undertaken within the temple premises obstructs the traditional pathways used for religious processions, particularly the annual chariot festival (Rathotsava), which attracts a large congregation of devotees. The petitioner, who claims to be the Chief Priest of the temple, apprehends that the proposed construction would interfere with and disrupt century-old religious customs and rituals. In that background, the petitioner has approached this Court seeking a direction to the respondent– authorities to consider the representation submitted in this regard.

2. Learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for the respondents, while referring to the representation produced along with the writ petition, would submit that the said representation is addressed to the Minister and not to the competent authorities concerned with the administration of the temple. He would therefore contend that in the absence of any representation being submitted before the jurisdictional authorities competent to examine the grievance, no direction as sought for by the petitioner can be issued at this stage.

3. Having perused the material placed on record and considered the submissions made by the learned counsel on both sides, this Court finds some substance in the submission made by the learned Additional Government Advocate. If the petitioner is aggrieved by the construction undertaken by the Muzrai Board within the temple premises, it is open for the petitioner to submit a detailed representation before the competent authorities concerned. If such a representation is submitted by the petitioner in his capacity as the Chief Priest of the temple, the competent authorities shall examine the same in accordance with law and pass appropriate orders thereon.

Reserving libert