A dispute over administrative control of the Anjanadri Hill temple in Gangavati taluk of Koppal district has intensified, with district administration officials clashing with local priest Vidyadas Baba. On Wednesday, officials removed locks that the priest had placed on temple rooms, leading to a verbal altercation between the two parties.
Vidyadas Baba argued that the district administration has no rights at Anjanadri under a court order and should not violate that directive. Although the Dharwad High Court had previously granted the priest only the right to perform worship, he claimed to have taken over administrative responsibilities and locked all temple rooms, also removing staff employed by the Religious Endowments Department.
Led by Koppal Assistant Commissioner Mahaboob Jilan Qureshi, officials broke the locks on the rooms held by the priest on Wednesday and reinstated the previous staff to duty. They also removed banners installed by the priest in the name of a trust, an action that drew his protest. Speaking to the media after the commotion, Vidyadas Baba stated that the officials had committed a legal violation by breaking the locks without showing the court order and announced he would pursue legal action.
Gangavati Taluk Officer Vinayak G clarified that the court had ordered the provision of one room for the priest to reside and perform worship, but did not grant him control over the temple’s administration.