Temple festival invitation row: DC clarifies

Seeking to defuse the row over his name appearing in an invitation card for a temple car festival at Puttur near here, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim today said it had been printed as per protocol and he would ensure that the event is held smoothly and successfully.

Ibrahim has been dragged into a row over his name being printed in the invitation card for the festival at Lord Mahalingeshwara temple, with Puttur Congress MLA Shakuntala Shetty saying printing the name of the DC had given rise to discordant notes.

As per provisions of the Hindu Religious Endowments Act, names of non-Hindus cannot be printed in temple invitations, she had said, a stand supported by some Hindu fringe groups.

She had later backtracked from her statement, saying invitations should be reprinted only if the court directed the temple authorities to do so.

In a release here, Ibrahim said Deputy Commissioners of districts head all religious institutions falling under the Muzrai department. After he took over as the DC here, the additional deputy commissioner of the district was handed over power as deputy commissioner for the purpose.

Since then, the additional deputy commissioner had been discharging duty as the deputy commissioner under section 7 of Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act.

As such, he was discharging duties as president of district religious council, formation of managing committees for different temples, appointing administrative officers to temples wherever necessary, and deciding on hereditary rights.

The DC clarified that the custom of printing deputy commissioner's name in temple invitation had been in vogue in various temples of the district as well as other districts, and that in respect of Lord Mahalingeshwara temple at Puttur, his name was printed as per protocol.

Ibrahim said all religious rituals being held at the shrine from April 10 to 20 would be in the presence and supervision of executive officer of the temple and administrator. Puttur assistant commissioner would also take part to guide the proceedings during the car festival.

As additional deputy commissioner had already been posted as deputy commissioner under the above act for Hindu religious institutions, he would be present, provide guidance, and see that the car festival was held smoothly, maintaining peace and harmony in the district.

The 10-day car festival, held from April 17 every year in the famous temple at Puttur, 52 km from here, attracts thousands of devotees from different parts of the state.