In a major development at the revered Anjanadri Hill temple, a team of officials from the Koppal district administration, led by Assistant Commissioner Maheboob Jilani, broke open locks installed by Mahant Vidyadas Baba on several temple premises on Wednesday and directed the administrative staff to resume their duties.
As per Udayavani reports, the officials took control of the administrative office, storeroom, water storage room, Veda Pathashala, and laddu counter after removing the locks. Items inside the sanctum sanctorum were also reportedly restored to their original positions. The operation was carried out in the presence of senior officials, including Deputy Superintendent of Police Jayappa Nyamagouda and Tahsildar Vinayak Godabale.
Dispute over donation box and removal of staff
Mahant Vidyadas Baba objected to the relocation of a large donation box, resulting in a heated exchange with the officials that reportedly lasted over 30 minutes. He questioned the decision, alleging that the box was being deliberately shifted. Following the presentation of earlier CCTV footage, he eventually agreed to its placement near the main entrance of the sanctum sanctorum.
In another significant move, the Assistant Commissioner instructed more than 30 individuals appointed by the Baba for cooking, cleaning, and other temple-related activities not to report for duty again. Officials also removed two signboards displaying the Baba’s photograph and a poster from the outer wall of the sanctum sanctorum.
Baba questions Congress’s government’s actions
Reacting strongly to the administration’s intervention, Mahant Vidyadas Baba accused the Koppal district administration of acting arbitrarily and displaying high-handedness despite an earlier Karnataka High Court order.
He maintained that the High Court had quashed the administration’s previous actions and directed that his trust be permitted to manage the overall administration of Anjanadri. He further accused the authorities of showing little interest in the temple’s development and turning the matter into a personal dispute.
Questions over temple administration
The incident has raised serious questions about the Congress government’s handling of the administration of Anjanadri Hill, a Hindu sacred site associated with Bhagwan Hanuman and deeply revered by devotees.
Temple administration must prioritize the interests of devotees, religious traditions and the institution’s development. Any administrative intervention must be transparent, legally justified, and consistent with court directions. The government must clarify the legal basis for the latest action and ensure that the temple’s religious and administrative affairs are not affected by political or bureaucratic interference.
Congress and its repeated controversies involving Hindu temples raise serious concerns. This is not the first instance in which the Karnataka Congress government has attempted to take control of a Hindu temple like Anjanadri or its administration. Will the same approach ever be adopted towards churches and mosques? Why does the government appear so keen to exercise control over Hindu temples? Are temples merely sources of revenue for the government rather than places of worship that deserve autonomy and respect?
Such actions must be strongly condemned. No temple administration should be handed over to irresponsible government control. Temples are places of faith, culture, and tradition, not institutions for political or financial exploitation.
