Updates
Bangalore : HC orders government not to touch Hanuman Temple
April 28, 2012
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Bangalore : Judge Ramesh directed the authorities not to disturb or remove any valuables at the Sri Prasanna Veeranjaneya Temple in Mahalakshmi Layout until further orders, following a petition filed by the temple trust. The trust had challenged the notification issued by the state government taking over temple administration and appointing an administrator for it. "The temple was being run by the trust. The state government, without affording any opportunity of hearing, has taken over the reins of the temple by notifying it as a muzrai temple. Though the temple accounts were being managed properly, the authorities have declared it as a muzrai temple citing mismanagement. There was no proper inquiry as required under the law," the trust stated.
"Since the temple was taken over on April 13, day-to-day activities are hampered. If a restraint order is not passed, they are going to take out gold ornaments from the temple," N Ravindranath Kamath, counsel for the trust told the court. The government advocate sought time till May 2 to place the records.
Source : TOI
Bangalore : Strong demonstrations by HJS against taking over of temples
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April 18, 2012
Bangalore : Mr. Krushnamurthy, the office-bearer of temple trust, Mr. Chandru Moger of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and members of Sanatan Sanstha participated in the demonstrations along with 100 devout Hindus. Mr. Mohan Gowda, the spokesperson of HJS said, “HJS strongly opposes the Government for taking over management of temples. Till the Government does not withdraw orders to take over management of Shri Prasanna Veer Anjaneya Swami temple, devout Hindus will continue their fight. This is grave injustice and religious sentiments of Hindus have been hurt. It is against the freedom conferred by the Indian Constitution. It is a breach of law as the honorable District Collector issued such notice only at the time of taking action and did not take trustees of this temple into confidence or considered their opinion before issuing such notice. It seems that the district collector has taken such action under political pressure; therefore, HJS demands that the Government should cancel the order at the earliest.”
Kannada ‘Samay’ channel published news about the said agitation and ‘Kasturi’ Kannada channel 24 news’ telecast direct interview with HJS activist, Mr. Chandru Moger. A devout Hindu expressed his strong displeasure and said, “The Government took over famous temples at Tirupati, Sri Siddhivinayak Mandir, Mumbai and Sri Saibaba Mandir at Shirdi and there is so much of corruption. The Government committees are looting the temples.”
Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat
Bangalore : Govt takes over Hanuman temple without notice
April 15, 2012
Bangalore : The trust managing the Prasanna Veeranjaneya Temple in Mahalakshmi Layout says it was not even issued a notice and the operation was conducted during the weekend so that courts can’t be approached for relief.
The 40-year-old Prasanna Veeranjaneya Temple of Mahalakshmi Layout is now government property. In an operation on Friday evening, officials from the religious endowment department took over the temple, enraging its trust.
The trust authorities alleged they were not even issued a notice and the operation was conducted during the weekend so they cannot approach the courts.
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Trouble was brewing between the trust and some local people for the last two years. Bangalore Mirror had reported on June 4, 2010 the tussle between the trust and the public over the construction of a commercial structure in front of the temple, which obstructed the view of the idol from the road.
A compromise was reached two weeks later and the construction stopped. The half-constructed commercial space is still an eyesore. Back then, the local elected representatives backed the devotees opposing the construction. The public complaint has finally resulted in the government taking over the temple.
Subramanya, the temple treasurer, said, “At 4 pm on Friday, 20 officials came and said the government has taken over the temple and would be entrusted to the endowment department. They had no answer to our questions as to why no notice was issued to us. By 9 pm, they sealed the inventory, gate and donation box.”
He said the temple and the trust have been in existence since 1973 and it is not an illegal entity.
“The temple is located on the land given by the government. The takeover was done on Friday evening so that we cannot approach courts on Saturday and Sunday. We will take legal recourse on Monday,” he said.
Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala is also a trustee of the temple.
The trust authorities say some locals who were trying to take over the trust are behind the move. Many Hindu organisations joined the protest in the temple on Saturday. They said the government takeover will result in corruption.
A protester said, “The Tirupati temple, Mumbai’s Siddivinayaka temple and even Shirdi Sai Baba temple are tainted with corruption after the government takeover.”
The trustees, however, refused to seek help from the local representatives alleging they could be part of the scheme to take over the temple.
Local MLA N L Narendra Babu said, “There was a tussle between the local people and the committee looking after the temple. They were trying to put up a commercial structure that people felt was destroying the sanctity of the temple. Earlier, the idol was visible from the road itself. The structure obstructed the view. People objected to it. The government had to sort out the issue in the interest of the public.”
He said the trust was advised to sit across the table and sort it out. “They didn’t take the advice positively. The public approached the muzrai department. The takeover is done keeping in mind the harmony of all concerned, including those who have been running the affairs of the temple.”
The temple
The Veeranjaneya temple, spread over 13 acres, is famous for its 22-feet-tall monolithic statue of Hanuman. Before the locality came into existence, the rock had a painting of Lord Hanuman and it was being worshipped. The locality saw development in the late 1960s.
In 1975, sculptor Shanmugananda carved the idol on the same rock. On June 7, 1976, in a traditional ceremony attended by former chief minister Kengal Hanumanthaiah and P V Narasimha Rao, the temple had its official beginning.
Source : Bangalore Mirror
