IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K.NARENDRAN
&
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.G. AJITHKUMAR
Wednesday, the 29th day of June 2022 / 8th Ashadha, 1944
DBP NO. 17 OF 2021
IN THE MATTER OF GURUVAYOOR DEVASWOM BOARD - MATTER PERTAINING TO GURUVAYOOR
TEMPLE - SUO MOTU PROCEEDINGS INITIATED AS PER NEWS ITEM APPEARED IN THE ONLINE
MEDIA - REG:
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PETITIONER:
SUO MOTU
RESPONDENTS:
1. THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER (*CORRECTED)
GURUVAYOOR DEVASWOM BOARD, THRISSUR.
*CORRECTED AS
THE ADMINISTRATOR,
GURUVAYUR DEVASWOM MANAGING COMMITTEE,
GURUVAYUR, THRISSUR - 680 101
(*CORRECTED AS PER ORDER DATED 14/09/2021 IN DBP 17/2021)
*ADDITIONAL RESPONDENTS 2 TO 8 IMPLEADED
2. THE STATE OF KERALA
REP. BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT REVENUE (DEVASWOM),
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001.
3. THE DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF
RAMAVARMAPURAM ROAD, PALLIMOOLA, MANNUMKAD
RAMAVARAMAPURAM, THRISSUR - 680 631
4. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR & CHAIRPERSON OF
THE DISTRICT DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY, THRISSUR,
CIVIL STATION, CIVIL LINES ROAD, AYYANTHOLE, THRISSUR - 680 003.
5. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER
MELPATHUR ROAD, SOUTH NADA, THRISSUR NEAR GURUVAYUR TEMPLE,
GURUVAYUR, THRISSUR - 680 101.
6. THE SECTORAL MAGISTRATE
(FOR WARD NOS.1 TO 21 OF CHAVAKKAD MUNICIPALITY),
SRI.RADHAKRISHNAN P., TALUK STATISTICAL OFFICER
TALUK STATISTICAL OFFICE, CHAVAKKAD, MINI CIVIL STATION,
CHAVAKKAD, THRISSUR - 680 506.
7. THE GURUVAYUR DEVASWOM MANAGING COMMITTEE
REP. BY ITS ADMINISTRATOR, GURUVAYUR DEVASWOM
GURUVAYUR, THRISSUR - 680 101
8. SRI. RAVI PILLAI
AVI GEETHAM, Q.S. ROAD, KOLLAM - 695 008
(*ARE SUO MOTU IMPLEADED AS ADDITIONAL RESPONDENTS 2 TO 8
AS PER ORDER DATED 14/09/2021 IN DBP 17/2021
BY SRI. T.K. VIPINDAS, SC, GURUVAYOOR DEVASWOM BOARD FOR R1 & R7
BY SR. GOVERNMENT PLEADER FOR THE RESPONDENTS 2 TO 6
BY SRI. HARIKUMAR G. NAIR, ADVOCATE FOR THE 8th RESPONDENT.
THE DEVASWOM BOARD PETITION HAVING COME UP FOR ORDERS AGAIN ON 29/06/2022,
UPON PERUSING THE PETITION AND THIS COURT'S ORDER DATED 30/03/2022, THE COURT ON
THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING.
DBP No.17 of 2021
-1-
ANIL K. NARENDRAN & P.G. AJITHKUMAR, JJ.
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DBP No.17 of 2021
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Dated this the 29th day of June, 2022
ORDER
Anil K. Narendran, J.
Today, when this DBP came up for judgment, we sought certain clarifications from the learned Standing Counsel for Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee and also the learned counsel for the 8th respondent, with specific reference to few screenshots taken from the video that appeared in the online media, which is referred to in paragraph 13 of the order of this Court dated 14.09.2021. One such screenshot regarding the decoration on the side of Kalyanamandapams in the Nadapanthal, in front of Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple, is reproduced hereinbelow;
2. As can be seen from the above screenshot, the area on the side of Kalyanamandapams was decorated using Anthurium. The DBP No.17 of 2021 -2- botanical name of Anthurium, i.e., 'Anthurium andraeanum', which finds no place in the affidavit filed on behalf of the 8 th respondent dated 20.03.2022, wherein the botanical name of the flowers/leaves used for Pushpalankaram in the Nadapanthal are furnished.
3. In connection with the marriage in question, few cut- outs were placed few meters away from the Nadapathal, which is evident from the screenshots reproduced hereunder;
4. The specific stand taken in the affidavit filed by the 1 st respondent Administrator and that filed by the 8 th respondent is that DBP No.17 of 2021 -3- 'Pushpalankaram' in the Nadapanthal is being permitted as Vazhipadu item in Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple. On similar requests made by certain devotees, the previous Managing Committees have taken favourable decisions.
5. On a query made by this Court as to whether 'Pushpalankaram' in the Nadapanthal is a Vazhipadu item, as per 'Paditharam' or any other approved register maintained in Guruvayur Devaswom, the learned Standing Counsel seeks time to get instructions.
6. The learned counsel for the 8th respondent also seeks time to get instructions on the clarifications sought by this Court.
As requested by the learned Standing Counsel for Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee and also the learned counsel for the 8th respondent, list on 04.07.2022 at 2.00 p.m., as 'to be spoken to'.
Sd/-
ANIL K. NARENDRAN, Judge Sd/-
P.G. AJITHKUMAR, Judge AV/30/6 29-06-2022 /True Copy/ Assistant Registrar