Sree Durgaparameshwari Temple, Kateel-574148. Mangalore Taluk. Dakshina Kannada District. By Its Hereditary Trustees vs Commissioner For Hindu Religious Institutions And Charitable Endowments In Karnataka 4th Floor, Sree Minto Anjaneya Vartha Bhavana, Alur Venkatarao Road, Chamarajpet, Bengaluru-560018 & Others

Krishna S Dixit, J

These Petitions involving certain intricacies of law & facts, were extensively argued at the Bar. On the suggestion of this Court, both the sides fairly agree to the following arrangement:

i) The impugned Reports of the Inquiry be set at naught and matters be remitted to the portals of Deputy Commissioner for conducting a de novo Inquiry with the participation of all the stakeholders including the impleading applicants herein, Yakshagaana Artists, representatives of Yakshagaana Melaas.

ii) The enquiry proceedings in a summary manner shall be held in accordance with the provisions of CPC, 1908 as indicated in Sections 65 & 66 of the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997 and the Rules promulgated thereunder.

iii) It is open to the participants to file fresh Pleadings or the like, propose Draft Issues/Points and to lead evidence, both oral & documentary, but in very brief. All contentions are kept open. Participants may be represented by their Advocates, who may submit a brief Written Arguments after exchanging copies thereof with each other.

iv) No party or participant or any other stakeholder shall be given any adjournment in the Inquiry since the same has to be concluded within an outer limit of six weeks, which includes submission of Report to the Commissioner, Hindu Religious Institutions (‘HRI’ for short); a copy of the Report shall be supplied to all.

v) The Commissioner, HRI shall consider the representations that may be filed by the participants or any other person interested in the Temple Yakshagaana or members of Yakshagaana Melaa before 9th of November, 2023 and no further time will be granted for this in any circumstance.

vi) The Commissioner, HRI shall consider the Inquiry Report in the light of all the representations and pass the Final Order and file Compliance Report with the Registrar General of this Court on or before 23.11.2023.

All the parties to the proceedings through their advocates are instructed to appear before the jurisdictional Deputy Commissioner on 30.09.2023 at 2.00 pm and seek further instructions at his hands.

Ordered accordingly & Writ Petitions are disposed off.

In view of disposal of Writ Petitions, all pending impleading applications pale into insignificance.