HC bench recuses itself from Ramachandrapura Mutt case

A division bench of the High Court of Karnataka headed by Chief Justice S K Mukherjee on Friday recused from hearing a PIL seeking directions to remove Raghaveshwara Bharathi as the seer of the Ramachandrapur Mutt.

The bench passed an order stating personal inconvenience of one of the judges of the bench. The PIL will be listed before another division bench.

Petitioners, Edurkala Ishwara Bhat and others had moved the court seeking directions to regulate Ramachandrapur Mutt and other mutts in the state by passing a regulatory statute by the state legislature.

The petitioners contended that the seer transgressed and violated all norms prescribed by the scriptures and has indulged in proscribed activities and is an accused in several cases.

The petitioners sought directions to appoint a committee to suggest the successor to the Mutt and to manage its administration.