Mangaluru: A devotee on Friday moved the High Court contending that the invitation to a muslim IAS officer for the temple festivities by the district authorities was in violation of State Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act 1997.

Naveen Kulal, one of the devotee of Puttur Mahalingeshwara temple in his petition contended that according to the act, only officers professing Hindu religion could be given charge of Hindu religious institutions.

Justice A S Bopanna after hearing the petition has directed the state government to produce notification of appointing the Deputy Commissioner under Section 4 of the Act to Dakshina Kannada district.

The court instruction to the state government comes in the wake of petition filed by the devotee in which he has contended that A B Ibrahim was also discharging duties as the Deputy Commissioner in violation of Section 7 of Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act.