In Brief
The Ramachnadrapura Math sought removal of Gokarna Mahabaleshwara Temple from the list of notified temples under the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997, claiming the temple belonged to the Math. The High Court quashed the government's de-notification order, holding that disputed factual questions require civil adjudication. The Supreme Court upheld this, finding the administrative determination lacked proper evidence and violated principles of natural justice. Pending final appeal decision, the Court directed an independent Overseeing Committee headed by a former Supreme Court Judge to administer the temple, protecting devotees' and the Math's interests alike.
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