CHIKKAMAGALURU, 23 JAN

Karnataka government has decided to withdraw the notice demanding the return of the salary paid to Hiremagaluru Kannan, the priest of the Kodandarama temple in Chikkamagaluru, who conducts prayers and chants mantras in Kannada.

Muzarai Department Minister Ramalingareddy announced that he will instruct the Department Commissioner to retract the notice.

The controversy arose when the district administration issued a notice to Kannan, who gained popularity for conducting religious ceremonies in Kannada. Speaking to reporters, minister Ramalingareddy clarified that the notice was a result of an incorrect decision made by the local tehsildar.

Kannan, serving as the head priest of the Kalyana Kodanda Rama temple for the past 44 years, was receiving a monthly salary of Rs 7,500 from the State government. However, due to a decline in the temple's income, the government decided to reduce the salary to Rs 4,500 and demanded the return of the excess amount paid over the years, amounting to Rs. 4,74,000 for the past 10 years. Additionally, Tehsildar Sumanth issued a notice on 2 December 2023, withholding the salary for December.

Expressing his discontent with the situation, Kannan stated, "It is not right to withhold the salary. There is a shortage of priests in temples. How right is it to ask back the poor priest's salary?" Salar News