SC tells Karnataka govt to clarify its stand on right to worship at Chikkamagaluru shrine within 8 weeks

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Karnataka government to clarify its stand on rights to worship claimed at the holy shrine of Datta Peetha, Guru Dattatreya Baba Budangiri Swamy dargah in Chikkamagaluru.

The place at Chikkamagaluru is visited and venerated by thousands of Hindus and Muslims alike but there have been demands for its “liberation” on the ground that it was a temple of Lord Dattatreya.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan gave the Karnataka government last opportunity to clarify its position within eight weeks or they would be saddled with the cost.

The counsel said the Hindus are being led by a Hindu Pujari and there is a mujawar that is taking care of the Muslim rituals.

The bench said, "Some decisions are difficult, we are not saying they aren't difficult, we extend the time for taking a decision."

Earlier, the state government said that a Cabinet Sub-Committee has been constituted and they are deliberating on the dispute.

On September 3, 2024, the bench had said, "It is distressing to note that the Cabinet Sub-Committee has been in seisin since before 25.01.2024 but seems to have made no real progress."

The court had then said last opportunity is given to the State of Karnataka to ensure that a decision is taken in the matter before the next date of hearing. The petitioner was permitted to file a written note on the historical perspective of the religious institution in question.

The matter before the court is related to a challenge to the Karnataka High Court's March 6, 2023 judgment which quashed the state government's move to permit only Muslim priest to perform rituals at the Datta Peetha.