Daijiworld Media Network - Karwar (SP)

Karwar, Nov 2: The Supreme Court (SC) has directed Karnataka state government to hand over administration of Lord Mahabaleshwara temple at Gokarna in Uttara Kannada district to Ramachandrapur Math before November 5.

In its previous order, the SC had asked the concerned to maintain status quo in the dispute till the final verdict is delivered. But the government had asked the executive officer to continue to retain management of the temple instead of transferring it back to Ramachandrapur Math. At the same time,   the government had filed application in the SC seeking clarification on certain points in the said order.

A three-judge bench presided over by Justice Kurian Joseph, Justice A M Khanwilkar, and Justice D Y Chandrachud  which took up this  application, said that in the previous order, they had made it abundantly clear that the temple administration should be vested with the Math. It said that time till November 5 is being given to complete this process.

Meanwhile, Ramachandrpaur Math had filed contempt of court petition against the government for dithering from obeying the SC order. But the bench did not take up hearing of this petition on Thursday.