The Karnataka government appointed retired IAS officer PS Vastrad as the administrator of Sri Jagadguru Murugharajendra mutt on Tuesday. Let it be noted that main priest of Murugharajendra Mr. Shivamurthy was arrested in September this year after which the mutt had appointed retired judge SB Vastramath as the administrator but the government has now appointed Vastrad in his place.
Shivamurthy was arrested in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case. After seeking advice from the advocate general, in the interest of the trust (the mutt), it has been decided to appoint an administrator from the government side,” said an official order.
According to the same order Shivamurthy couldn’t handle financial management and the mutt’s property as he is presently in judicial custody. So, to prevent inconvenience of mutt and educational institutions, an administrator was appointed.
The mutt runs 150 institutions across the country, including 80 educational institutions, of which around 15 are in Chitradurga town alone – among them are a medical college and hospital, a dental college, engineering, pharmacy, law and nursing colleges, besides several schools and polytechnic institutes.
