[Thrissur Pooram 2024] Kerala HC Directs Municipal Corp, Dewaswom Board To Ensure Sree Vadakkunnatha Kshetra Maidan Is Not Used For Waste Disposal

The Division Bench comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Harisankar V. Menon held thus:

“In view of the directions contained in the orders of this Court dated 26.07. 2023 in DBP No.32 of 2023 and DBP No.35 of 2023, no part of Thekkinkadu Maidan (Sree Vadakkunnathan Kshethra Maidan) shall be used by Cochin Devaswom Board or Thrissur Municipal Corporation for the disposal of biodegradable or non-biodegradable waste generated during Thrissur Pooram Festival, exhibitions, etc.

The Court passed the above order in a Devaswom Board Appeal (DBA) filed seeking directions regarding solid waste management in the compound of Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple (Sree Vadakkunnatha Kshetra Maidan) during Thrissur Pooram of the year 1199 ME (2024).

The Court also directed the Cochin Devaswom Board and its officials to ensure that entry of a 'worshipper' into the premises of Sree Vadakumnathan Temple through Gopurams wearing footwear cannot be permitted during the Thrissur Pooram.

It further held that the Cochin Devaswom Board along with Paramekkavu Devaswom, Thiruvambady Devaswom and Thrissur Pooram Exhibition Committee shall take necessary steps to ensure that environmental safety levels are maintained in Sree Vadakkunnathan Kshethra Maidan in connection with plastic and non-biodegradable also biodegradable substances during the Thirssur Pooram. It thus directed District Collector to convene a joint meeting before April 17, 2024 including all the concerned officials for and effective disposal of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste generated during Thrissur Pooram.

In K.B. Sumodh v. Commissioner, Cochin Devaswom Board and others (2023), the Court held that Sree Vadakkunnatha Kshetra Maidan is a Devaswom land managed by the Cochin Devaswom Board as a trustee in management of Devaswom property, in terms of the provisions of the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act. As per Section 62A, immovable properties vested in the Cochin Devaswom Board shall be dealt as Devaswom properties. Section 73 A pertains to duties of the Cochin Devaswom Board such as establishing and maintaining proper facilities in major temples for the devotees.

In K.B. Sumodh (supra), the Court directed that the Cochin Devaswom Board or Thrissur Municipal Corporation shall not use the Sree Vadakkunnatha Kshetra Maidan for disposal of biodegradable or non-biodegradable waste generated during Thrissur Pooram and sufficient staff would be deployed to watch and ward duty in the temple compound.

Thus, the Court stated that the Cochin Devaswom Board and its officials have to ensure that festivals in Vadakkumnatha Temple are conducted in an accustomed manner enabling all worshippers to exercise their right to worship subject to law.

In an earlier order, the Court directed Cochin Devaswom Board and Thrissur Municipal Corporation to ensure that the Sree Vadakkunnatha Kshetra Maidan be kept plastic-free and to maintain environment safety levels by managing plastic, bio-degradable and non-biodegradable substances.

The Court was apprised that the Thrissur Municipal Corporation faced difficulty disposing of waste generated during the Thrissur pooram due to lack of an open ground. The Municipal Corporation apprised the Court that 50 daily labour roll workers would be engaged during Thrissur Pooram and 380 daily labour roll workers on April 19 and 20, 2024, to clean the Sree Vadakkunnathan Kshethra Maidan.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Ker) 253

Case title: Cochin Devaswom Board V The Deputy Director

Case number: DBA NO.3 OF 2024

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