Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday delivered a significant ruling, issuing an interim stay on the construction of a road intended for private property owners on the government land belonging to the Shree Koragajjaswamy Temple (Daivasthana) in Badaru area of Bajire village, Belthangady taluk, Dakshina Kannada district.

What is the Court's Directive?

The single-judge bench of Justice S. Sunil Dutt Yadav issued the order while hearing a petition filed by Pradeep Kumar Hegde, President of the Koraga Kallu Shri Swamy Koragajja Seva Trust (Reg.), Bajire village. The court granted an interim stay to the government and the district administration, preventing the construction of any road for the use of adjacent private property owners on the 0.80 acres of government land (Survey No. 39/1A) belonging to the Koragajja shrine in the Badaru area of Bajire village.

In connection with the petition, notices have been issued to the State Government's Revenue Department, the Mangaluru Deputy Commissioner, the Puttur Sub-Divisional Officer, the Belthangady Tahsildar, and the concerned private property owners. The hearing was then adjourned.

Shrine's History and Trust's Concern

According to the petition:

The Koragajja shrine has been located on the side of the Venur-Moorje Zilla Panchayat road in Badaru, Bajire village, for approximately 400 years. It is situated on 0.80 acres of government land in Survey No. 39/1A, which is currently enclosed by stone pillars and barbed wire fencing.The Koragajja temple was recently reconstructed seven or eight months ago, and locals and thousands of devotees offer their services there.

However, the Trust expressed apprehension that a road was being constructed to access some private properties located to the north of this land, passing directly in front of the shrine. This would severely disrupt the daily activities and services of the Daivasthana. Although the Trust had submitted a request to the Deputy Commissioner on October 30, 2025, no action was taken, leading the Trust to approach the court for intervention. The interim order by the High Court has, for now, halted the process of constructing a road on the sacred land belonging to the shrine.