Kerala High Court Directs Travancore Devaswom Board To Take Immediate Steps To Improve Health Condititions Of Temple Cows

The Kerala High Court on Thursday directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to take immediate measures to improve the heath conditions of the cows and bulls in the 'goshala' of Vaikom Sree Mahadeva temple. 

The Division Bench comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice P.G. Ajithkumar issued the directive while considering the suo motu proceedings initiated on the basis of a news report highlighting the lack of proper care for cows in the Goshala of the temple. 

The Court was informed by the Senior Veterinary Surgeon through his report that the Goshala which houses 4 bulls and 3 cows, lacks proper ventilation and has poor drainage, slippery and broken floor, and that it is also close to the waste dumping area of the temple. The Senior Veterinary Surgeon suggested certain measures such as modification of the existing shed or the construction of a new shed, and other measures, in light of which the Court issued the above directive to the Board. 

"Having considered the report dated 07.06.2023 of the Senior Veterinary Surgeon and also the submissions made by the learned Senior Government Pleader, the learned Standing Counsel for Travancore Devaswom Board and also the learned Advocate Commissioner, we find that the Board has to take immediate measures to improve the health condition of the bulls and cows in the Gosala and to maintain clean and tidy the surroundings of the Gosala, by conducting periodical cleaning," the Court ordered. 

The Deputy Devaswom Commissioner and the Assistant Devaswom Commissioner were directed by the Court to ensure the that the cows and bulls in the Goshala were being taken care of by the Devaswom staff in the meanwhile. 

The Court in this case also considered the issue of discharge of waste water to the temple pond. On taking note of the report of the Executive Engineer that had been placed before the Court in accordance with its directions, the Court took note that the drainage from the Gosala and Prathalpura is directly connected to the drainage pipe seen in the photograph referred to hereinbefore. It thereby directed the Executive Engineer to take necessary steps to provide an independent drainage for the overflow mechanism from the temple pond and permanently close the drainage pipe. 

The matter has been posted for further consideration on June 14, 2023. 

Case Title: Suo Motu v. State of Kerala & Ors. 

Click Here To Read/Download The Order