Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 9: The additional civil and JMFC court judge here has rejected an application filed by Latavya Acharya, secretary of Shiroor Math Bhakta Samiti, seeking permission to file criminal suit against the spiritual head of Sode Math and power of attorney holder, Ratnakumar, relating to dealings connected with the fixed assets of Shiroor Math.

After the demise of the head of Shiroor Math sometime back, the affairs of the math are being looked after by Sode Math, which is the pairing (Dwandwa) Math of Shiroor Math as per the traditions of the eight maths here.

The petitioner had said that Shiroor Math has assets at various places and alleged that irregularities are found in the dealings with them by Sode Math representatives. Latavya Acharya argued that after the demise of Shiroor Mathi head, his heir should have been appointed within a month. He contended that other than appointing a heir, Sode Math head does not have any right of interference in the affairs of Shiroor Math.

The judge said that as per the unwritten traditions, Sode Math is the pairing Math of Shiroor Math and therefore is responsible to run the Math affairs in the absence of the head of the Math. He noted that when managing the affairs, getting involved with rent etc cannot be treated as a criminal offence and therefore, concluded that this is a civil case, before dismissing the petition