The Supreme Court on Tuesday (15 September 2026) declined to intervene in a Kerala High Court ruling from August 2026 that permitted Kashi Matadhipati Swami Samyamindra Tirtha to proceed with execution proceedings to recover gold, silver ornaments and other paraphernalia belonging to the Kashi Math Samsthan from Raghavendra Tirtha Swami.
The dispute began when Raghavendra Tirtha sought a declaration from the Tirupati district court that he was the lawful 21st Matadhipati of the ancient religious institution. The court, however, ruled in favour of Sudhindra Tirtha Swami, the former Matadhipati, and ordered that the deities, religious articles and other properties of the Samsthan be handed over to the Guru.
After Sudhindra Tirtha’s death, the mantle passed to Samyamindra Tirtha, who claimed succession based on a 2003 will and a 2015 proclamation. Raghavendra Tirtha challenged this claim, arguing that the succession should be recognised by the Tirupati court. The Ernakulam court accepted Raghavendra Tirtha’s position in April 2019, but the Kerala High Court overturned that decision on 3 August 2026.
A bench headed by Justice Aravind Kumar dismissed the special leave petition filed by Raghavendra Tirtha, stating that there were no grounds to entertain the petition. The Supreme Court’s short order therefore left the Kerala High Court’s ruling intact.
The case highlights the complex interplay between traditional succession practices and the Indian judiciary’s role in adjudicating disputes over religious institutions.
