Court dismisses suit against Puthige seer

Udupi, Jan 14 (UNI) A lower court today dismissed as ''not maintainable'' a petition filed against Sri Sugunendra Thirtha Swami of Puthige Mutt, seeking an interim injunction against his ascending the Paryaya Peeta and conducting Sri Krishna pooja at the famed Sri Krishna temple here.

Delivering the judgment, Cheluvamurthy, the Additional Civil Judge (junior division) of Udupi, said there was no prima facie case and the pontiffs of the Ashta Mutts of Udupi had not been made party in the suit. Besides, the plaintiffs could not be treated as representing the public.

The Judge further stated that the suit had been dismissed as it was filed by the plaintiffs C H Nagaraja Rao and Harish Bhat at the eleventh hour, despite knowing that the preparations for the Paryaya were going on for the last one year.

Mr Rao and Mr Bhat had filed the suit on January four, seeking an injunction from the court to restrain the pontiff of Puthige Mutt from ascending the Paryaya Peeta as he had violated the tradition by undertaking a foreign tour.

Mr Dorairaju, the advocate representing the plaintiff, told newspersons outside the court hall that he had applied for a copy of the judgment. After studying it in detail and consulting with the plaintiffs, he would take steps to file an appeal.

He said he intended to file an appeal at the office residence of the Judge by tonight as tomorrow was a court holiday.

UNI MA GD ADB NC RN1942