Karnataka High Court quashes Dharwad District administration’s order restricting entry of Kadusiddes
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has set aside the Dharwad District Magistrate’s order that had barred Adrushya Kadusiddeshwara Swamiji of Kaneri Math, Kolhapur (Maharashtra), from entering Dharwad district until January 3, 2026.
The order, issued by the Dharwad Deputy Commissioner on November 4, was challenged by the Swamiji. Justice M. Nagaprasanna, presiding over a single-judge Bench, allowed the petition and struck down the prohibition.
The court observed that the district administration’s entry-ban order did not satisfy the constitutional and legal standards laid down by the Supreme Court. It noted that the restriction had been imposed merely on suspicion, without the government furnishing any concrete reasons.
The judge also recorded the undertaking made on behalf of the petitioner that the Swamiji would act responsibly and not violate any law. Accordingly, the court not only annulled the November 4 order but also invalidated all actions taken or likely to be taken under it.
Appearing for the Swamiji, advocate Venkatesh Dalavai argued that the government had issued the restriction under Section 163(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) without even issuing a show-cause notice. The programme scheduled in Dharwad had already concluded on November 7, he pointed out, questioning the rationale behind extending the ban until January 2026. He contended that the order lacked any valid or stated grounds, making it arbitrary and mala fide.
Counsel for the State submitted that the Deputy Commissioner had acted on a report from the Superintendent of Police. They claimed the Swamiji did not have adequate control over his speech, and that the restriction had been imposed as a precautionary step. The government argued that even the Supreme Court had not granted any relief earlier and maintained that the Swamiji’s actions were likely to disturb public sentiments.
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Temple money belongs to deity, cannot be used to save cooperative banks: SC
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New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday said that money belonging to a temple deity cannot be used to prop up financially distressed cooperative banks.
The sharp observations were made by a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi while hearing appeals filed by a few cooperative banks challenging a direction of the Kerala High Court asking them to return the deposits to the Thirunelly Temple Devaswom.
"You want to use the temple money to save the bank? What is wrong with directing that the temple money, instead of being in a cooperative bank which is breathing with great difficulty, should go to a healthy nationalised bank which can give maximum interest," the CJI asked.
Temple money belongs to the deity and hence, the money has to be "saved, protected and utilised only for the interests of the temple" and it cannot become a source of income or survival for a cooperative bank, the CJI said.
The pleas against the high court order were filed by Mananthawady Co-operative Urban Society Ltd and Thirunelly Service Cooperative Bank Ltd.
The high court had directed five cooperative banks to close the Devaswom's fixed deposits and refund the entire amount within two months, following repeated refusals by the banks to release the matured deposits.
The bench was unconvinced with the submissions of the banks that the abrupt direction of the high court was causing difficulties.
The bench said the banks should establish credibility among the people.
"If you are unable to attract the customers and deposits, that is your problem," it said.
The top court refused to entertain the pleas.
It, however, permitted the banks to approach the high court for extension of time to comply with the impugned order.
The case arose from a plea filed by the Thirunelly Devaswom after several cooperative banks refused to repay the temple's fixed deposits despite repeated requests.
The high court had directed Thirunelly Service Cooperative Bank Ltd, Susheela Gopalan Smaraka Vanitha Cooperative Society Ltd, Mananthawady Cooperative Rural Society Ltd, Mananthawady Co-operative Urban Society Ltd, and Wayanad Temple Employees Cooperative Society Ltd to return the funds within two months.
