Plea against appointing minor as ‘mathadhipathi’: Govt can’t stay quiet, says HC

Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka adjourned the hearing in a PIL petition questioning the legality of anointing a minor as the 31st seer of Udupi Shiroor Mutt after orally asking the state government to examine the issue of appointing a minor as the ‘mathadhipathi’.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj, which heard the petition filed by the managing trust of Sri Shiroor Mutt Bhaktha Samithi, Udupi, represented by P Lathavya Acharya, and others, while pointing out to counsel of petitioners that certain pleas cannot be permitted in a petition filed in the nature of public interest litigation.

The court orally observed that the government cannot be a silent spectator when allegations are being made about violation of a minor child’s rights, as the petition referred to a representation made to the police.

The court then adjourned the Hearing to June 2, 2021 while granting time to petitioner’s counsel to amend the petition.