Bengaluru: In a significant development concerning Chitradurga’s Murugha Mutt, the Karnataka High Court on Monday appointed the Principal District and Sessions Court Judge of Chitradurga as the Administrative Officer of Chitradurga’s Murugha Rajendra Bruhanmutt.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice P.B. Varale and Justice M.J.S. Kamal gave the order while hearing a petition that questioned the Government’s decision to withdraw the appointment of the Administrator of the Mutt.

The Bench said that the Administrator has been appointed temporarily and will look into the day-to-day administration of Murugha Mutt and the Institutions which are run by it. But there is no scope for policy making or taking  policy decisions. The Chitradurga Deputy Commissioner (DC) should extend necessary co-operation for the same, the Bench said, while adjourning the matter to July 18.

The Pontiff of Murgha Rajendra Bruhanmutt Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru is under judicial custody after his arrest  in connection with POCSO and SC/ST Act charges in the first week of September last year.

The previous BJP Government had appointed retired IAS officer P.S. Vastrad as the Mutt Administrative Officer on Dec. 13, 2022.