Rons Bantwal

Bengaluru, Dec 4: The High Court of Karnataka has issued an interim order restraining the construction of a road for private landowners in front of the Shri Swami Koragajja Devasthana located at Koragkallu in the Badaru area of Bajire village, Belthangadi taluk, as the land belongs to the government.

The matter came up on Wednesday, December 3, before a single-judge bench of Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav on a petition filed by Pradeep Kumar Hegde, president of the Bajire Koragkallu Shri Swami Koragajja Seva Trust (Regd.).

After hearing the petition briefly, the court directed the state government and district administration not to allow the construction of a road through 0.80 acres of government land in Survey Number 39/1A, which belongs to the Koragajja Temple, for the benefit of adjacent private landowners. 

The court also issued notices to the state government’s revenue department, the Mangaluru Deputy Commissioner, Puttur sub-divisional officer, Belthangady tahsildar, and the private landowners, and adjourned further proceedings.

The presence of the deity of Koragajja along the Badaru Venoor-Moorji District Panchayat road in Bajire village has been recorded for around 400 years. The temple stands on 0.80 acres of government land in Survey Number 39/1A, enclosed by stone pillars and ropes.

The temple was reconstructed seven to eight months ago. Local devotees continue to offer their services at the temple. However, private landowners to the north of the site planned to construct a road passing in front of the temple. This, the petitioners argued, would disrupt the temple’s activities.

The petition mentions that a complaint was submitted to the district administration on August 30, 2025, but no action was taken. Therefore, the High Court was approached for a directive.