Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Sep 14: In the dispute raised over the appointment of the new head for Udupi Shiroor Math by the religious head of Sode Math as per the Dwanda Math traditions, the high court has appointed senior advocate, S S Nagananda, as the Amicus Curiae. The court has instructd to proide him all the documrnts including a copy of the petition. This order was passed when the public interest litigation filed by Shiroor Math Devotees Committee secretary, P Latavya Acharya and others came up for hearing before a division bench of the high court comprising acting chief justice of the high court, Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sachin Shankar Mugdum on Monday September 13.
The bench after hearing arguments from both the sides, said that this is a serious matter and wanted to know whether there are existing laws which forbid a minor who has become a monk, (Baalasanyasi) from becoming spiritual heads of Maths. The bench wanted to know what the law says about these things. Pointing out that Shankaracharya and many gurus had headed Maths when they were very young, the bench wanted to know whether there are legal restrictions for this practice and questioned the petitions whether they can file civil suit on the issue.
Advocate for the petitioners said that this involves the issue of children's rights and added that there are some Supreme Court judgements on the issue. He therefore sought the bench to verify these things and pass an order. The bench, after asking the government to file objections if any, posted the final hearing to September 23.
The petitioners have claimed that there is no provision to make a 16-year-old the head of a Math and that the consent given by a minor to become a Sanyasi is invalid. They say that the rights of minors have been violated. They also have claimed that Sode Math does not have any right to control administrative, financial, spiritual and religious matters relating to Shiroor Math and termed as illegal the interference of Sode Math head, Sri Vishwavallabha Theertha Swamiji in appointing successor to the Math throne.
Appearing for Sode Vadiraja Math, advocates said that the eight Maths of Udupi have a long tradition of crowning minors as heads of the Maths and this practice has been followed for centuries. They said that the young people with spiritual leanings are ordained into the religious path, they are taught the religious scriptures and made the heads of Maths. There is no force or compulsion on them. They said that there are no restrictions in law for this practice.