Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 10: Uttara Kannada district deputy commissioner had instructed the concerned taluk level officials to hand over the administration of Lord Mahabaleshwara temple at Gokarna back to Ramachandrapur Math in tune with the Supreme Court order. This instruction was issued on October 6 and the handing over was expected to be completed on Tuesday October 9. However, the process was withheld halfway through. Political pressure allegedly worked against the complete handing over of the temple.

Sandesh Talakalakppa, media assistant secretary of Sri Raghaveshwara Bharatiteertha Swamiji, head of Ramachandapur Math, said that misuse of government machinery is evident in this particular case.

"Under instructions from the deputy commissioner of the district, Kumta taluk officials had written to G K Hegde of the Math about their decision to hand over charge at 10 am on October 9, and asked the temple authorities to be prepared for the same. The handing over process was undertaken, and ornaments of the presiding deity had been weighed and handed over. At this point, the officials received a telephonic call through which certain instructions were conveyed to them. The officials immediately stopped the process of handing over," Sandesh complained in a statement.