Supreme Court nod for Kerala High Court to continue execution proceedings in Kashi Math case

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NEW DELHI, 18-08-2025 - A view of the Supreme Court of India on August 18, 2025. Photo: DEEPIKA RAJESH / INTERN / THE HINDU. | Photo Credit: DEEPIKA RAJESH

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) did not intervene with a Kerala High Court decision of August 2026 which allowed Kashi Matadhipati Swami Samyamindra Tirtha to continue the execution proceedings for recovery of gold, silver ornaments and paraphernalia belonging to the Kashi Math Samsthan from Raghavendra Tirtha Swami.

A Bench headed by Justice Aravind Kumar dismissed the special leave petition filed by Raghavendra Tirtha, who had originally sought a declaration that he was the lawful 21st Matadhipati of the Samsthan, an ancient religious institution governed by long-standing customs and usages.

Trouble started with a dispute between the former Matadhipathi, Sudhindra Thirtha Swami, and Raghavendra Tirtha.

Raghavendra Tirtha moved a Tirupati district court for a declaration that he was the 21st Matadhipati. Sudhindra Tirtha had resisted the suit, countering that the former had never succeeded to the office of Matadhipati.

In 2009, the Tirupati court decreed in favour of Sudhindra Tirtha, and ordered his former disciple to personally hand over to his Guru “all deities, religious articles and other properties of the Samsthan”.

Sudhindra Tirtha subsequently initiated proceedings to execute the decree. The case was shifted to an Ernakulam court in Keralam for execution proceedings.

Once the case started in Keralam, the State High Court had allowed a request from the then Matadhipati for police assistance in the execution of the decree. At one point, the CBI was tasked to investigate the case regarding the Samsthan’s valuables, including 234 ornaments, silver articles and 27 idols, alleged to be in the possession of Raghavendra Tirtha.

When Sudhindra Tirtha passed on, the mantle of Matadhipati fell on the Samyamindra Tirtha, represented by advocate Lakshmeesh S. Kamath. Samyamindra sought to alternate the original decree-holder and Guru, Sudhindra Tirtha, with himself.

His claim to take on the role of decree-holder was based on a registered Will of November 2003 and a Proclamation of 2015 in which the Guru nominated Samyamindra Tirtha as his successor.

Raghavendra Tirtha opposed Samyamindra Tirtha’s claim, saying the latter had to approach the Tirupati court, which passed the decree, with his claim of succession as Matadhipati and plea for substitution as decree-holder.

Though the Ernakulam court accepted Raghavendra Tirtha’s argument in April 2019, the Kerala High Court set it aside on August 3, 2026.

Following which, Raghavendra Tirtha had moved the apex court, though unsuccessfully.

“We do not find any good grounds to entertain this petition. The special leave petition is, accordingly, dismissed,” the apex court recorded in a short order on Tuesday

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