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Govt issues notice to Adi Chunchanagiri Mutt for running educational institution without approval; Mutt blames it on ‘politics’

After politicians across party lines, it is the turn of the state’s tallest Vokkaliga mutt, Adi Chunchanagiri Mahasamsthana, to face charges of land use violations. The mutt has been accused of using the land allotted to it for commercial purposes. Mutt authorities have denied the accusation, putting it down to “politicking” in the deputy commissioner’s office.

The 15.31 acres of government land in Hulimavu on Bannerghatta Road was allotted to the mutt to set up an international spiritual centre and ayurveda hospital. But the district administration has found that an educational institution — BGS National Public School — is being run there without the government’s permission.
 
On March 30 this year, Bangalore urban deputy commissioner M K Aiyappa issued a show-cause notice to the mutt administrator on why the government should not cancel the land allotment in the light of the violation.
 
The issue dates back to two orders of 1981 and 1985, whereby 15.31 acres of land in survey number 89 of Hulimavu was allotted to the Sri Ramalingeshwara Swamy Temple Trust (popularly called Cave Temple). “After a petition from the Adi Chunchanagiri Mutt, it was re-allotted to the mutt in April 1997 for setting up an international spiritual/religious centre and an ayurveda hospital with certain riders,” said a senior revenue department official who has dealt with the case.
 
The riders were: The land should not be used for other purposes without permission; transfer of ownership of the land cannot be done at any point in favour of the mutt; the mutt administration will have to pay the prescribed land conversion fee; no structures should be put up without the approval of the local planning authorities.
 
“We received complaints about the violation of rules. After an inspection, it was found that the mutt was running an educational institution. This, without prior approval of the government,” an official said.
 
A copy of the notice, available with Bangalore Mirror, says: “The 15.31 acres of survey number 89 of Hulimavu, Bangalore south taluk, which was allotted to Sri Ramalingeshwara Temple was transferred to Sri Adi Chunchanagiri Mutt to set up an international spiritual/religious centre and ayurveda hospital. Government has transferred the land with certain conditions laid down under the Karnataka Land Grant Rules of 1969, which say the land should be used only for the said purpose. It should not be used for any other activity without the permission of the government. When the spot inspection was done, it was found that the land which was allotted for religious purposes was being used to run an educational institution. In the light of violation of the rules, why shouldn’t the government cancel the land allotment?”
 
The mutt administration was given a week’s time to reply to the notice. Shekar Swamy, junior to Balagangadharanatha seer, who looks after the mutt’s educational institutions, said a school with classes upto the 12th standard has been functioning from the premises with all the required permissions from the state government.
 
“We have received the notice from the deputy commissioner’s office and we have replied stating that permission was obtained from the government. There is some politics happening in the DC’s office, which is why we got the notice. We have sought permission from the government to start higher education and it is pending before the cabinet,” Shekar Swamy told Bangalore Mirror.
 
After the Mutt administration replied to the notice, deputy commissioner Aiyappa  sent a report to the government stating the Mutt has violated the land use conditions laid down before the allotment  and action should be initiated