Puttur: With the High Court of Karnataka passing an order stating that the invitation cards of Puttur Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple annual fair be re-printed after removing the name of Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim, the temple administration has got the new stock of cards.

The first print of the annual fair that is slated to be held on April 10 had the names of R R Babu from the Hindu Religious and Endowment Department, A B Ibrahim, Deputy Commissioner, Jagadish S Administrative officer and M H Ravindra Executive Officer.

A section of people had raised objection to this, specifically pointing that A B Ibrahim, a non-Hindu’s name cannot appear in a Hindu temple invitation.

A Writ was filed and the High Court upheld the sentiments of the devotees and citing appropriate laws, it ordered the removal of the DC and re-printing the invitations.

The new cards were printed on April 1.

However, the temple administration did not just remove the name of the DC, but made sure that no official’s name appeared on the card. The temple administration has only maintained the designations in the new cards, which now reads that the invitation has been extended by the Administrative Officer, Executive Officers, priests, staff of the temple and the villagers.

It is said that the first print of the invitation cost Rs 18,000 to the temple and the second print would cost double because of the urgency with which it was printed.

However, the devotees who have been viewing the issue from a logical point of view feel that the row over inclusion of DC’s name was uncalled for. They seek to know who will be bearing the cost of the unnecessary wastage of money that the issue has caused.