Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Aug 5: The High Court on Tuesday August 4, stayed the July 27 order issued by the government, appointing nine persons to the managing committee of Kollur Goddess Mookambika Temple, as per the recommendations of the state Chief Minister(CM).

The stay order was issued by Justice Ajit Gunjal, while hearing a batch of petitions moved by former trustee of the temple and former central Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Harikrishna Punaroor and several others, who alleged that the rules were thrown to the winds while making appointment of persons facing criminal charges including Lokayukta investigation, to the above committee.

"Applications had been invited for making appointments to the said committee on June 23. A total of 106 persons including ourselves, had applied for the same. The CM has overlooked our applications and directed the religious endowments commissioner to make appointment of nine people as nominated by him," the petitioners said.  They pointed out that Govind Adiga, Gouri, Kalpana Bhaskar, Ramakrishna Nahasal, Pranay Kumar, Srinivas Kalluraya, Mohankumar Cherippady, K S Lakshminarayan and Krishnaprasad Adyantaya, belong to a single political party.

"Lokayukta investigation is on against Adyantaya. There are allegations against Govind Adiga. Overlooking them, the commissioner of religious endowments has made their appointments," they alleged. The petitioners have requested the court to hold these appointments as null and void and order for undertaking the process of appointments afresh. The Judge, after ordering for issuing notices to all the concerned, adjourned the hearing.