Kallahalli Varahaswamy Temple | Karnataka HC Stays Fresh Encroachment Probe Against Parakala Mutt After Tehsildar Report Found No Illegalities

The Karnataka High Court on April 7, granted an interim stay on coercive action by the Revenue Department Authorities against the Brahmantantra Swatantra Parakkala Mutt over allegations of government land encroachment. The Mutt is currently managing the historical Bhoo Varahaswamy Temple in Kallahalli.

Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum also restrained the respondent authorities from interfering in the day-to-day activities and peaceful enjoyment of the temple by Parakala Matha. The court, after asking the Advocate General to file objections if any, noted that a previous Tehsildar report didn't indicate any encroachment by the mutt. The court, hence, noted in the order as follows:

“….The petitioner submits that an enquiry was conducted pursuant to the complaint lodged alleging that petitioner is encroaching over government land. The report in annexure F [Tehsildar's Report] states no such encroachment substantiated…. Despite the report, a second attempt was made by the previous complainants leading to constitution of a committee to hold enquiry into the alleged encroachment. According to the petitioner, in WP 27408/2025, the Hon'ble High Court has quashed the very constitution of the said committee. Despite there being an order in favour of petitioner, the petitioner says that similar enquiries are now contemplated…. On examining, this court finds some substance in the submissions made by the counsel for the petitioner…the matter requires deeper examination. Annexure M and N [Fresh Enquiry Notices] are stayed until further orders…”.

Before the High Court, the petitioner sought to quash proceedings initiated by the Regional Commissioner (Revenue), Mysuru Division, and the Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Mandya, who has issued fresh enquiries into the alleged land encroachment. The Mutt has argued in their petition that the revenue authorities are unnecessarily initiating enquiries into their land holdings despite a previous High Court Order dated September 2025 in the Mutt's favour.

Today, Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner, Adv. S Susheela, submitted that the management of the temple by the Mutt can be traced back to the year of 1817 wherein the Royal Dynasty of Wadiyars handed over the temple's administrative affairs to the Mutt.

The counsel also referred to a gift deed dating back to the year of 1938, as certified in the Archaeological Survey of India Records, which cements their proposition that they have had uninterrupted enjoyment of 11 acres of temple's 'Gramatana'[village] land over a period of two centuries.

In 2024, the Mutt obtained a license for carrying out further renovations in their land, says the writ petition. Soon thereafter, two individuals, A Ganesh and Suma M filed a complaint alleging land encroachment by the temple management. The Assistant Revenue Commissioner called for a report from the Tehsildar. According to the petitioner, the Tehsildar submitted a report stating that the entire land in possession of the temple is 'Gramatana land'. Citing no proof of encroachment, the Assistant Revenue Commissioner closed the enquiry, adds the plea.

In July 2024, the complainants filed another grievance before the Regional Commissioner of Revenue Department, who, later formed a committee comprising of revenue officials to investigate the issue at hand. The Mutt challenged the formation of the committee before the High Court in WP 27408/2025. In this writ, the High Court ordered that the Commissioner lacked the statutory authority to form any such committee, argues the petitioner.

Once again, in November 2025, the previous complainant filed another grievance of land encroachment by the temple, which made the Regional Commissioner to issue an order for fresh enquiry by the Deputy Commissioner.

The Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) once again submitted a report stating that there has been no encroachment of government lands, says the petitioner. However, upon the insistence of Regional Revenue Commissioner, a committee comprising of revenue officials has been constituted again to enquire into the alleged encroachment of government land by the temple, submits the petitioner-Mutt.

Along with Adv. S Susheela, Senior Adv. C.N Mahadeshwar and Adv. Akash V.T appears for the petitioner.

Case Title: Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Swamy Mutt v. State of Karnataka & Ors.

Case No: Writ Petition No. 10919/2026