Supreme Court Issues Notice On Travancore Devaswom Board's Plea Challenging HC Order Appointing TDB Commissioner

The Supreme Court today (September 17) issued notices in an appeal against the order of the Kerala High Court appointing C.V. Prakash, Additional Secretary (State Home Department) as the new Devaswom Commissioner of Travancore Devaswom Board (Board).

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P.B. Varale was hearing a special leave petition filed by the Board against the order of the High Court.

At the outset, Senior Advocate V. Giri along with Adv PS Sudheer (for Travancore Devaswom Board) informed the Court that he was challenging the order of the Kerala High Court and sought a stay on the order. However, since there was no opposite party present before the Court today, the bench stated that it would hear the other side and then decide.

Through a suo moto petition, the division bench of Justices Anil K. Narendran and Harisankar V. Menon appointed the Commissioner and also directed the Board, which also runs the Sabarimala Temple, to issue formal orders within two weeks to expedite the appointment.

The suo moto proceedings were registered on the alleged illegalities, embezzlements and irregularities in the administration noticed during the consideration of audit reports.

By an order dated June 26, the High Court observed:

"Having considered the submissions made at the Bar on the service particulars and other aspects of two Additional Secretaries to Government included in the panel and also the submission made by the learned Standing Counsel regarding the preference of the Board among the persons included in the panel, we find that Sri. C.V. Prakash, Additional Secretary to Government, Home Department, who had experience in the Vigilance Department for about 4 years as Under Secretary and Deputy Secretary and experience in the Home Department for about 3 years as Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary, can appointed as the Devaswom Commissioner, Travancore Devaswom Board, on deputation basis, for a period of two years, who shall also act as the Member Secretary of the High Power Committee for Implementation of Sabarimala Master Plan."

Case Details: THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD v. STATE OF KERALA AND ORS, SLP(C) No. 21044-21045/2024