Supreme Court Asks Karnataka Collector To Appear After Alleged Non-Compliance With Order In Sri Anjaneya Temple Head Priest Case

The Supreme Court today called on the Collector of a Karnataka district to appear before it (online), after it was informed that its earlier order with respect to Sri Anjaneya Temple head priest was not being complied with.

Apparently, in 2018, the district Collector had directed taking over of the temple management from its head priest. Subsequently, the Karnataka High Court passed an interim order in favor of the head priest and the same was confirmed by the Supreme Court.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi orally called for the Collector's appearance, after Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain (for the temple priest) alleged that the top Court's order was not being complied with and impediments were being created for worshippers.

The counsel sought an adjournment in the case on account of personal difficulty, but beseeched the Court to give a short date, urging,

"The district Collector has [stalled] the order of the Supreme Court. He says I don't believe in the order of the Supreme Court. Hundis are placed in front of the deities so that no one can worship. Very serious things have happened after this Hon'ble Court...kindly have it next week."

Initially, Justice Kant noted that the Court has confirmed the stay order in favor of the petitioner and that he can file a contempt petition if the Court's order is not being complied with. However, when Jain again stressed for the matter to be listed next week, saying that he is seeking some reliefs, the bench accommodated the request.

Before parting, Justice Kant told the respondents' counsel, "tell your Collector to remain present online. On that day, we would like to ask him some questions".

For context, Sri Anjaneya Temple is located in Koppal, Karnataka. In 2018, the Collector of the district is said to have directed taking over of the management of the temple by removing the petitioner.

Against this order, a writ petition was preferred before the High Court, in which interim order was passed in favor of the petitioner. This order restrained state authorities from taking any precipitative step against the petitioner in relation to the temple or his residence.

"The respondents shall not take any precipitative / coercive steps against the petitioner in relation to the subject temple or his residence in any manner whatsoever... It is made clear that this interim arrangement is without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the parties and subject to further orders of this Court and final outcome of these petitions", the High Court directed in its February, 2023 order.

Be that as it may, in March this year, an attempt was allegedly made by state authorities to replace the petitioner with another priest. “When the Petitioner questioned the Respondents' actions, they threatened him and used abusive language. They instructed him to 'mind his own business' and declared that the pooja and other duties would be performed solely by the third person they appointed", the petitioner states.

The plea further accuses the respondents of harassment.

Although a contempt petition was preferred against the authorities before the High Court, the same was dismissed vide order dated April 9, noting that prima facie case was not made out. The Division Bench of the High Court was of the view that there was material to support the allegations. It observed that the petitioner had not even lodged a police complaint. Aggrieved by this dismissal, the petitioner-priest approached the Supreme Court.

In May, the Supreme Court ordered Karnataka government to allow the petitioner to continue religious duties as well as reside in a single room situated at the site in terms of the 2023 interim order passed by the High Court. If there is any defiance or non-compliance with the order, the same shall be viewed seriously, the Court warned.

Case Title: VIDYADAS BABAJI Versus V. RASHMI MAHESH AND ORS., SLP(C) No. 14917/2025