Introduction:

A recent petition before the Karnataka High Court sought to restrict Puttige Mutt seer Sugunendra Theertharu from conducting religious rituals in Udupi due to his overseas travels. Petitioner Gururaj Jeevan Rao argued that the pontiff’s international journeys rendered him ineligible to perform rituals at the Krishna Matha. This led to a plea for the State to establish guidelines for ‘paryaya,’ a religious handover ceremony. However, the court, represented by Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit, dismissed the PIL, emphasizing the constitutional separation of state and religious matters.

Arguments of Both Sides:

Gururaj Jeevan Rao, the petitioner, contended that the pontiff’s foreign travels breached the traditions of the Mutt, disqualifying him from worshiping Lord Krishna. Rao urged the State to form guidelines for ‘paryaya.’ In response, the court, represented by Advocate Satish K for the petitioner and AGA Niloufer Akbar for the respondent, asserted that religious matters are beyond the state’s jurisdiction. The court highlighted citizens’ fundamental right to travel abroad and stressed that the State cannot interfere with religious customs based on a pontiff’s overseas visits.

Court’s Judgment:

The Karnataka High Court, in its dismissal of the PIL, reaffirmed the constitutional boundary between the state and religious affairs. The bench, led by Chief Justice Varale, underscored citizens’ right to travel and stated that overseas trips by pontiffs cannot be grounds for religious disqualification. The court rejected the plea for state intervention in ‘paryaya’ ceremonies, emphasizing that such matters are inherently religious and fall outside the court’s purview.