Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, May 20: The state high court adjourned the hearing into a petition challenging the appointment of a minor as the successor in place of the late Sri Laxmivara Theertha Swamiji of Shiroor Math here, to May 27.

The public interest litigation in this respect has been filed by secretary of Shiroor Math Devotees Committee, P Lathavya Acharya and four others, came up for hearing before a vacation bench of the high court comprising senior Justice Sathish Chandra Sharma and Justice M Nagaprasanna on Wednesday May 19.

Advocate for the petitioners, D R Ravishankar, arguing the case, said that Anirudh, a 16-year-old boy, has been appointed as the head of Shiroor Math. He argued that ushering a minor into religious services or acceptance of the religious order devoid of worldly affairs by the boy himself are not acceptable as per law. He also stated that Sode Math, which happens to be the Dwandwa Math of Shiroor Math as per the tradition of the Maths here, does not have the right to dominate the administrative, financial, spiritual and religious matters of Shiroor Math. He argued that in spite of this, Sode Math head, Sri Vishwavallabha Theertha Swamiji interfered in the matter of appointment of head of Shiroor Math which he argued is against law.

The petitioners have pleaded that Sode Math Swamiji does not have the right to appoint any person to the post of the head of Shiroor Math. They have sought the high court's order declaring this appointment as null and void.