Extend Proper Facilities To Sabarimala Pilgrims During Mandala-Makaravilakku Festival: Kerala HC To Devaswom Boards

The Kerala High Court on Thursday directed the Travancore Devaswom Board and the Cochin Devaswom Board to ensure that proper facilities are provided to Sabarimala pilgrims in the temples under their management during Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season of 1198 ME (2022-23).

"The Temple Advisory Committees of those temples, which are identified as Sabarimala Edathavalams, and also other temples which are identified by the concerned Devaswom Board to provide facilities to Sabarimala Pilgrims during Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season, shall render necessary assistance to the concerned Sub Group Officer/Devaswom Officer in providing proper facilities to Sabarimala pilgrims in the respective temples," said the court.

The division bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice P.G. Ajithkumar also directed Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee to ensure that proper facilities are provided to the Sabarimala pilgrims in the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple. 

The concerned Assistant Devaswom Commissioner in the temples under the management of Travancore Devaswom Board and Cochin Devaswom Board and the concerned Deputy Administrator in Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple have also been directed to conduct periodical inspections in those temples. 

"Any deficiencies or shortfalls noticed in such inspections, in the facilitates provided to Sabarimala pilgrims during Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season of 1198 ME (2022-23), shall be brought to the notice of this Court by the concerned Assistant Devaswom Commissioner/Deputy Administrator, through the learned Standing Counsel of the concerned Devaswom, for necessary orders", the court added. 

The Standing Counsel for the Travancore Devaswom Board informed the Court that the Board would provide Annadanam in all the 52 Edathavalams during Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season.

The Standing Counsel for the Cochin Devaswom Board further submitted that in addition to the two Sabarimala Edathavalams — Mudikkode Temple and Chirangara Temple, facilities for Sabarimala pilgrims are also provided in five other temples — Chottanikkara, Kodungalloor, Sree Vadakkunnathan, Kurumalikkavu, and Thiruvanchikulam.

The Standing Counsel for Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee also informed the Court regarding the arrangements made at the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple .

The Court said that as per the provisions of Sections 15A and 73A of the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, 1950, it is the duty of the Travancore Devaswom Board and the Cochin Devaswom Board to "see that the regular traditional rites and ceremonies according to the practice prevalent in the religious institutions are performed promptly and to establish and maintain proper facilities in the temples for the devotees". 

The Court further noted that the formation of Temple Advisory Committees in the temples under the management of the Travancore Devaswom Board and Cochin Devaswom Board has been envisaged under Sections 31A and 76A of the Act, respectively.

"The Temple Advisory Committees of those temples, which are identified as Sabarimala Edathavalams and also other temples, which are identified by the concerned Devaswom to provide facilities to Sabarimala Pilgrims during Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season, have a statutory duty to render necessary assistance to the concerned Sub Group Officer/Devaswom Officer in providing proper facilities to Sabarimala pilgrims in the respective temples," the court said.

The court also said that under Section 10 Guruvayur Devaswom Act, 1978, Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee has a statutory duty to ensure that proper facilities are provided to Sabarimala pilgrims in Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple

The matter has been posted for further orders on November 15.

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

Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (Ker) 587

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