State cannot be mute spectator when minor forced into Sanyasa: Karnataka HC in challenge to appointment of minor as mathadhipathi of Shiroor mutt

The State cannot remain a mute spectator when a minor is forced into Sanyasa and when his rights are violated, the Karnataka High Court observed on Tuesday..A Division Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj made this observation while directing the State government to examine the issue of appointing a 16 year-old as the ‘mathadhipathi’ (chief pontiff) of the Shiroor mutt community in Udupi."Rights of a minor are being violated as he is forced to become a sanyasi. Petitioner is allowed to apply for amendment of the prayers. List the petition on June 2,” the Court directed. .The Court was hearing a petition questioning the legality of anointing a minor as the 31st seer of Udupi Shiroor Mutt.The petition was moved by the managing trust of Sri Shiroor Mutt Bhaktha Samithi, Udupi, represented by P Lathavya Acharya and others..The petitioner submitted that there were a numbers of press reports as per which the Pethadipathi Pethadhipathi (Pontiff) of the Sodhe mutt had announced that a 16-year-old boy would be anointed as the Pethadhipathi of Shiroor Mutt by conferment of Sanyasa..The reports further said that the devotees of the Shiroor Mutt had raised their objections to the same, the plea stated. Interestingly, the petition also said that the minor is not a disciple of Shiroor Mutt..Further, the plea contended that in March, a legal notice was issued to the Pethadipathi to refrain himself from anointing any person as the Pethadhipathi of the Mutt and to also abstain from dealing with any of the immovable properties and idols of the Mutt. Despite the same, the announcement of the Pethadhipathi for the Shiroor Mutt community was made. This, the petitioner argued, is violative of the rights of the minor. .The Court after taking note of the sweeping prayers made in the petition, permitted the petitioners to amend the prayers.The matter was adjourned to June 2.