The Karnataka High Court has appointed two advocates as Court Commissioners to accompany a hereditary priest to the Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysuru and ascertain whether he faces any obstruction in performing his religious duties, following apprehensions that the temple administration may not comply with an earlier judicial direction.
The order came in a petition moved by the hereditary priest, who suffers from vitiligo and had alleged that, notwithstanding the High Court’s earlier order permitting him to perform poojas, he continued to face impediments from the temple authorities.
The State, through its Additional Government Advocate, maintained before the Court that no restriction had been placed on the petitioner and that he was free to discharge his duties. The petitioner’s counsel, however, expressed apprehension that the assurance given before the Court might not translate into compliance on the ground.
Taking note of the concern, Justice Suraj Govindaraj adopted an unusual course to ensure that the Court’s earlier mandate was effectively implemented. Two advocates volunteered to act as Court Commissioners on separate days and were accordingly appointed to accompany the priest during his visit to the temple.
The Court directed the temple authorities to facilitate the entry of the Court Commissioners into the temple premises, though not into the sanctum sanctorum. The Commissioners have been tasked with submitting reports on whether the petitioner was permitted to perform the pooja without any obstruction or interference.
The dispute traces its origins to objections raised against the petitioner’s performance of religious duties on account of his vitiligo. The petitioner had asserted his right to hold the hereditary position of Sannidhi Paricharaka, which had devolved upon him following the death of his predecessor. Medical material placed on record had established that the condition was non-contagious, while Agama experts had reportedly found no scriptural prohibition against a person with vitiligo performing the duties attached to the office.
In its earlier order of July 1, the High Court had directed the temple administration to permit the petitioner to perform his duties in accordance with the order recognising his rights and privileges as a hereditary priest. The Court had also emphasised that exclusion or stigmatisation on the basis of a non-contagious medical condition could not be countenanced, particularly when it resulted in discriminatory treatment offending the constitutional guarantee of equality under Article 14.
While granting relief, the Court had nevertheless left room for the temple administration to impose reasonable restrictions concerning the delegation of the petitioner’s functions to a substitute.
With allegations of continued obstruction now being raised, the High Court has sought to secure compliance with its earlier directions through direct judicial supervision. The matter is scheduled to be taken up for further consideration on August 24, 2026, after the Court Commissioners submit their respective reports.
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