Baba Budan Archives · Government Records · BD-GOV-2018-01

2018 — The Karnataka Government Order

19 March 2018 · Government Order No. RD 14 Muzarai 2009

Issuing authority: Government of Karnataka
Record: Government Order No. RD 14 Muzarai 2009
Date: 19 March 2018
Evidence status: Existence, principal effect and later judicial scrutiny documented in Karnataka High Court proceedings. An authenticated standalone copy of the complete Government Order is not reproduced here.

On 19 March 2018, the Government of Karnataka issued an order concerning religious practices and administrative arrangements at the institution associated with Baba Budan Hills. The decision followed years of litigation, a fresh enquiry report submitted in 2010, the Supreme Court’s directions in 2015, and a later High-Level Committee process.

1. Background: the Supreme Court’s 2015 directions

On 3 September 2015, the Supreme Court disposed of Civil Appeal Nos. 2685 and 2686 of 2010 and related proceedings. It noted objections to the Endowment Commissioner’s report of 10 March 2010 and left the State Government to consider the matter and reach a decision. The existing interim status quo was to continue pending that decision. This was a procedural direction; it was not a Supreme Court endorsement of every conclusion in the 2010 report.

2. The 2017 High-Level Committee

The State subsequently obtained a report from a High-Level Committee associated with former Karnataka High Court judge Justice H. N. Nagamohandas. The report is dated 3 December 2017. Its recommendations were part of the administrative decision-making history but should be distinguished from both original historical documents and judicial findings.

3. The Government’s decision of 19 March 2018

The Government issued Order No. RD 14 Muzarai 2009 after the committee and Cabinet-level consideration. Later judicial accounts describe the Government as declining to adopt the 2010 Endowment Commissioner’s recommendations and setting out its own position concerning continuation of specified religious practices and arrangements at the institution.

Archival caution: The present entry describes the Government Order through later judicial accounts. Until its full authenticated text and annexures are added to the archive, this page does not claim to reproduce an exhaustive list of directions or historical practices.

4. The subsequent High Court challenge

The 2018 Government Order was challenged in W.P. No. 18752 of 2018 before the Karnataka High Court. On 28 September 2021, the High Court quashed the order and remitted the matter for fresh consideration. Its judgment scrutinized the process and basis of the Government’s decision, including the treatment of the High-Level Committee and earlier enquiry material.

Accordingly, the 2018 order is an important historical administrative act, but it must not be presented as a presently unquestioned or judicially final determination of ancient customs.

5. Documentary sequence

10 March 2010 — Endowment Commissioner’s report
↓
3 September 2015 — Supreme Court directions
↓
3 December 2017 — High-Level Committee report
↓
19 March 2018 — Karnataka Government Order
↓
28 September 2021 — High Court quashes the 2018 order

6. Sources and records still required

Judicial cross-reference: Karnataka High Court, W.P. No. 18752/2018, judgment dated 28 September 2021. See also subsequent appellate proceedings concerning that judgment. These are later judicial sources for the Government Order and its treatment.

Outstanding originals: Certified or official complete copy of Government Order No. RD 14 Muzarai 2009 dated 19 March 2018; the full 3 December 2017 committee report; and associated Cabinet records where publicly accessible.