Udupi Shri Krishna Mutt removed from muzrai jurisdiction

Udupi Shri Krishna Mutt removed from muzrai jurisdiction

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, October 28: Higher Education Minister Dr. V. S. Acharya said on Oct 27, Wednesday, that the Udupi Shri Krishna Mutt, a famous pilgrim centre, has been released from the jurisdiction of the state muzrai department, after a great deal of deliberations on the part of the state government.

Explaining the matter further, the minister said that the mutt was one of the notified religious centres under Section 23 of the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act 1997 when the previous Uniform Act was enforced. The state government has denotified the mutt after obtaining the advice of legal experts because the mutt had specially requested to be denotified, he said.

All the religious institutions in DK were covered by the Madras Hindu Religious and Endowments act 1951 before May 1, 2003. The previous act covered mutts as well as temples, but the government could exempt both as per Section 1 (4) (1) of this act, informed Dr. Acharya.

He also said that, in taking this decision, the government has taken into consideration various points mentioned in the Supreme Court judgment and also the fact that the Mutt has been managed by 8 mutts and that its management and worship procedures have been traditionally handled through a paryaya system since times immemorial.

Certain conditions are associated with the denotification; for instance, the Mutt should continue allowing common people to have darshan of the deity, an order that is subject to several court orders. The Mutt is also required to obtain the government’s permission before demolishing or modifying buildings and monuments of historic and religious significance.

Acharya also said that several similar requests made by temples and mutts in the district are being considered.

Paryaya Shri Lakshmivarateertha Swamiji is delighted that the government has decided to remove Shri Krishna Mutt from the jurisdiction of the muzrai department.