The Hindu : Karnataka News : Komu Souharda Vedike to move Supreme Court

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka

Komu Souharda Vedike to move Supreme Court

Muralidhara Khajane

Sangh Parivar to hold annual Datta Mala in October

MYSORE: The dismissal of the State Government’s appeal relating to the contentious Shree Guru Datta Peetha in Bababudangiri in Chikmagalur by the Karnataka High Court has further complicated the issue with the Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike (KKSV) and the Sangh Parivar interpreting the judgment to suit their respective stance.

Datta Mala Abhiyan and Datta Jayanti celebrations at Bababudan-Datta Peetha have generated heat in the quiet coffee heartland. This symbol of Hindu-Muslim amity from centuries, nestled in the valley of the Western Ghats, is revered by both the Hindus and the Muslims.

While Muslims revere this as shrine of the Sufi saint Dada Hayat Mir Kalandar, Hindus consider it as the abode of Dattatreya, the incarnation of Brahma-Vishnu-Maheswara. The shrine has been documented as “Inaam Dattatreya Peetha Bababudanswamy Dargah” in the revenue records.

This symbol of communal harmony draws the attention of the nation during October and December every year because of the attempts by the Sangh Parivar to conduct Shobha Yatra, Datta Mala Abhiyan and Datta Jayanti and the secular and progressive forces opposing them for what they describe as “politicisation and communalisation” of the shrine.

A Divisional Bench of the High Court on August 4 directed the Commissioner for Religious and Charitable Endowment to codify rituals at the Bababudangiri Datta Peetha. While dismissing the State Government’s appeal, acting Chief Justice Deepak Varma and Justice A.S. Bopanna observed that the earlier judgment of a single judge had rightly ordered codification of the rituals, so there was no necessity to interfere in the single judge order.

“We are of the opinion that no case for interference is made out, after all nothing has been decided by the single judge on merits, except that the matter has been remitted to decide the controversial issue after giving an opportunity to both sides. The commissioner shall now proceed to carry out the directions at the earliest in accordance with the law,” they have stated.

The single judge Bench had, in its order on February 2, 2007, directed the commissioner to consider the grievances of the petitioner for offering puja to the “Padukas” of Swamy Dattatreya as per the religious customs of the Hindus. The Bench also directed the Divisional Commissioner to take steps to appoint an archak, if needed, and to consider allowing religious customs in the Hindu way of worship which was practiced prior to 1975.

The order was challenged by the Government stating that codification of rituals at the Datta Peetha would lead to more complications.

Banking on the High Court’s order, the Sangh Parivar has announced that the annual Datta Mala Abhiyan will be conducted from October 13 to 19 and urged the Government to make use of the opportunity provided by the High Court order to find a solution to the Datta Peetha-Bababudangiri controversy.

Pujas, homa

Mahendra Kumar, coordinator, State unit of Bajrang Dal, has announced in Chikmagalur that special pujas and homa would be conducted at the Datta Peetha on the concluding day. He has also said that a programme would be drawn up to make Datta Peetha a pilgrimage centre for the Hindus.

However, secretary of the KKSV K.L. Ashok said that the order of the Divisional Bench of the High Court has not permitted the Sangh Parivar to hold pujas and homas as per the Shivagamas.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Ashok said that the Divisional Bench’s order states that nothing has been decided by the single judge on merits except that the matter has been remitted to decide the controversial issue so that a factual finding could be recorded.

In view of ensuring communal harmony, KKSV has decided to continue the legal battle. It will appeal against the order of the Divisional Bench of the High Court in the Supreme Court. If the endowment commissioner holds an inquiry before that, the KKSV will launch a movement to create awareness among the public, he says.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section