In a recent order, the Supreme Court instructed the Karnataka government to allow Sri Anjaneya Temple’s head priest, Vidyadas Babaji, to continue performing his religious duties and reside in his single-room accommodation at the temple. This decision aligns with an interim order passed by the Karnataka High Court in 2023.

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The Court made it clear that any violation of this directive would be taken seriously. “Issue notice. Authorities are directed to comply with the 2023 interim order passed by High Court in pending writ petition and allow petitioner to continue duties as priest of temple and stay in the single room...Any defiance or non-compliance will be viewed seriously,” stated Justice Surya Kant. The order was issued by a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta after hearing arguments by Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the petitioner.

The temple, located in Koppal, Karnataka, has been under the worship of the petitioner’s religious group for over 120 years. In 2018, the district Collector ordered the management takeover of the temple, which included removing the petitioner. Following this, a writ petition was filed in the High Court, leading to an interim order favoring the petitioner. The High Court had explicitly restrained the authorities from taking any steps against the petitioner regarding his temple duties or residence.

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“The respondents shall not take any precipitative / coercive steps against the petitioner in relation to the subject temple or his residence in any manner whatsoever... It is made clear that this interim arrangement is without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the parties and subject to further orders of this Court and final outcome of these petitions,” the High Court order of February 2023 stated.

However, the petitioner claimed that despite this order, in March this year, attempts were made to replace him with another priest. He alleged that when he objected, the authorities threatened him, used abusive language, and insisted that the temple’s religious duties would now be handled by the new appointee. The petitioner further stated that the authorities, through their agents, cut off electricity to his room within the temple, harassed him, and even tried to frame him by planting cannabis in his quarters.

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A contempt petition was filed before the High Court against the authorities for violating the interim order. However, the High Court dismissed this petition on April 9, stating that a prima facie case was not made out and noting that the petitioner had not filed a police complaint. Disagreeing with this dismissal, the petitioner-priest approached the Supreme Court, resulting in the present order.

Case Title: VIDYADAS BABAJI Versus V. RASHMI MAHESH AND ORS., SLP(C) No. 14917/2025