Puttur: The Karnataka high court uphold the plea of the petitioner has directed that the name of the deputy commissioner, Ibrahim, to be dropped from the invitations for the annual festival to be held at the temple here.

The state government as well as Ibrahim had earlier clarified that the invitations were printed as per the protocols since the DC was in charge of the the muzrai department under Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Chairtable Endowments Act in Dakshina Kannada.

However, a devotee of the above temple who had filed the petition objecting the inclusion of the name of the DC, who happens to be a non- Hindu, in the temple invitation, relied on a rule which allows a subordinate Hindu to be appointed for performing duties relating to temples in instances where the DC is a non Hindu which would be in adherence to the laws governing temple administration.

A single judge bench of the HC presided by Justice A S Bopanna upheld the petition and has directed for reprinting of the invitations. Various religious rituals connected with the annual car festival of the temple are scheduled to be organized between April 10 and 20.

Right-wing groups like VHP had condemned the inclusion of the DC’s name in the temple invitation, stating that it was a violation of the law, and warned of holding protests.