New Delhi: Kashi Mutt – Supreme Court Dismisses Sri Raghavendra’s Appeal
Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi (SP)
New Delhi, Dec 3: An appeal preferred by Sri Raghavendra, former junior Swamiji of Sri Kashi Mutt Samsthan, against the verdict of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which had held through a decree dated March 25, 2009, that Srimad Sudhindrateertha Swamiji was the actual spiritual head (Mathadhipati) of Sri Kashi Mutt Samsthan, has been dismissed by the Supreme Court. The Andhra Pradesh High Court had ordered Sri Raghavendra, the erstwhile Shishya (next in succession) of Sri Sudhindrateertha Swamiji before getting relieved from the position, to hand over all the things, including the presiding deity of Sri Kashi Mutt, other idols and paraphernalia belonging to Sri Kashi Mutt but kept in his possession, back to Sri Sudhindrateertha Swamiji.
With this, the disciples of Sri Sudhindrateertha Swamiji, who form a overwhelming majority in the Gowda Saraswat Brahmin community, have heaved a sigh of relief, as the long-drawn dispute raised by the former junior Swamiji of the Mutt since the last ten years, has reached a decisive juncture.
The division bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justice Tarun Chatterjee and Justice H L Dattu, had heard arguments placed before the bench by both the parties on April 17 this year, and had reserved its judgment on the appeal as well as over the request of the petitioner to stay operation of the High Court verdict. With the dismissal of the appeal and refusal to issue stay order against the earlier High Court judgment, Sri Raghavendra is now bound by the High Court verdict and an obligation to act upon as per its terms. The persistent arguments placed before the courts by Sri Raghavendra to declare himself as the spiritual head of Sri Kashi Mutt Samsthan have accordingly, failed to appeal the judiciary.
The elated Shishyas of Sri Sudhindrateertha Swamiji from GSB community congregated at the local Sri Venkatramana Temple to share their joy by bursting crackers. The decision of the division bench of the Supreme Court has vindicated the position of Sri Sudhindrateertha, a very charismatic and econic head of the Mutt, which has a rich history of over 500 years, as the undisputed head of the Mutt. Sri Sudhindrateertha Swamiji, because of his knowledge, friendly manners, charismatic personality and acquaintance with almost all the members of the community, has been held in reverence by the GSB community, and the victory of the Swamiji, coming at a time when he has completed 60 years of service to the community, has made his disciples very happy. It may be recalled that the unexpected rebellion of the then junior Swamiji of the Mutt, Sri Raghavendra, had sent shock waves through the GSB community a decade ago, as till then, the community had not experienced any problem in the Mutt administration.
Earlier: