The High Court of Karnataka has directed the Principal Secretary, Forest Department, to examine whether religious institutions, temples and mutts could be allowed to grow their own sandalwood trees for the express purpose of using only for their religious customs and practices.
If the temples could be permitted to grow their own sandalwood trees, then the government can formulate necessary policy for that purpose, the court said.
Justice Suraj Govindaraj passed the order while partly allowing a petition filed, way back in 2011, by Sri Krishna Mutt, Udupi. The petitioner-mutt had sought a direction to the Forest Department to release the remaining quantity of the 1,087 kg of sandalwood, which the government had agreed to supply to the temple every year since 1921.
The mutt had filed the petition as the government had supplied only 30 kg of sandalwood as against the agreed quantity. The sandalwood paste, prepared by rubbing sandalwood billet against a grinding slab, in a semi-liquid form is used for the puja of Lord Krishna as well as distribution of it as prasada to the devotees, the mutt had told the court.
However, the government told the court that it is not possible to supply sandalwood in such a large quantity in the present circumstances due to shortage of availability of sandalwood, but 10 kg of sandalwood billets could be supplied to the mutt, if necessary application is made, every year as is being done in case of Muzrai Department notified temples.
