Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court has held that Raghavendra Tirtha Swami, former disciple and disowned successor of the Kashi Mutt Samsthan, had failed to establish his plea that his guru Sudhindra Thirtha Swamiji had relinquished the post of matadhipathi of the mutt and the Shri Tirumala Kashi Mutt at Tirupati.
Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy was dismissing two appeals moved by Raghavendra Tirtha Swami and another, challenging an order passed by the IV additional district judge of Tirupati in 2000. The lower court had dismissed his declaratory suit claiming that his guru had renounced matadhipathya in 1994 and entrusted the duties to him.
The lower court had ordered the restoration of all idols, movable assets and other paraphernalia belonging to the Kashi Mutt to Shrimad Sudhindra Teertha Swamiji.
Justice Nagarjuna Reddy, while upholding the lower court order, observed that “entrustment of all his duties and responsibilities by a matadhipathi to a sishya is one thing; relinquishment of his office is quite another thing. A matadhipathi, even after entrustment of his functions to his sishya, could still continue as the figurehead of the mutt till his Samadhi.”
The judge said, “In the present case, there is no dispute about the fact that as per the custom and usage, the disciple of the mutt nominated as the successor will succeed to the office of the matadhipathi only on the samadhi of the previous matadhipathi. Therefore, unless Raghavendra Swami adduces unimpeachable evidence to show that his guru has relinquished office in his lifetime, he will not be entitled to be declared as the matadhipathi.”
Referring to the restoration of properties, the judge said the petitioner had not advanced arguments on the correctness or otherwise of the decree in connection with the counter claim as the main plea based on which the decree was questioned is subject matter of a civil revision petition.
It may be recalled that after the lower court judgement with regard to restoration of properties, Raghavendra Thirtha Swami had given the slip to the police. He was arrested in Kadapa along with some property and paraphernalia belonging to the Kashi mutt in October 2011.
Cops jailed for contempt of court
Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao sentenced Karimnagar rural circle inspector Narender and sub-inspector L. Sreenu and one Bojja Narayana to three months imprisonment in a contempt case.
The judge was allowing a contempt case moved by the Fishermen Cooperative Society of Chamanpalli village, represented by its president Bojja Tirupati. He had alleged that they had failed to implement a court order. The HC had granted stay on conducting fishing operations in Appanapalli tank. The police was asked to ensure that no one, especially Narayana, unofficial respondent in the case, was allowed to fish in the tank.
Despite the order, Narayana fished in the tank and the police did not prevent him even after six complaints were lodged, the counsel for petitioner said.The judge also imposed Rs 2,000 fine on all three and gave them two weeks to appeal.
HC seeks info on case against MLA
Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao directed the Union home secretary to ascertain whether criminal cases are pending against TRS Armoor legislator A. Jeevan Reddy in Sharjah and Dubai and place the information before the court.
While dealing with an election petition moved by one Satyam, the judge said this information was vital. The petitioner alleged that Mr Jeevan Reddy was facing two criminal cases in Sharjah and Dubai and that he had suppressed this fact while filing his nomination.
