IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DEVAN RAMACHANDRAN
&
THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE SOPHY THOMAS
FRIDAY, THE 6TH DAY OF MAY 2022 / 16TH VAISAKHA, 1944
WP(C) NO. 15286 OF 2022
PETITIONER:
SREE VAIKKATHAPPAN ANNA DHANA TRUST
NO.111/OV/1990, VAIKOM P. O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT,
PIN - 686141, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING TRUSTEE.
BY ADV MOHAN C.MENON
RESPONDENTS:
1 THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD
DEVASWOM HEAD QUARTERS, NANTHANCODE,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695003, REPRESENTED BY ITS
SECRETARY.
2 THE SECRETARY
THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, DEVASWOM HEAD QUARTERS,
NANTHANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695003.
3 THE DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER
THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, DEVASWOM HEAD QUARTERS,
NANTHANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695003.
BY ADV SRI.G.BIJU, SC.
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON
06.05.2022, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C) NO. 15286 OF 2022
2
JUDGMENT
Devan Ramachandran, J.
The petitioner, which is stated to be a Trust, has approached this Court alleging that, inspite of the Covid - 19 pandemic scenerio having subsided, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is not allowing them to conduct the "Annadhanam", as had been permitted to be done in the past. They say that they have, therefore, preferred Exts.P2 and P3 representations before the competent Authority of the Devaswom Board and pray that the same be directed to be taken up and disposed of within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.
2. Sri.G.Biju, learned standing counsel for the Devaswom Board, in response to the afore submissions of Sri.Mohan C.Menon - learned counsel for the petitioner, submitted that if the petitioner only requires Exts.P2 and P3 to be taken up and disposed of, there does not appear to be any legal impediment in doing so; but prayed that this Court may not make any affirmative declarations as to the entitlement of the petitioner to any relief and leave it to the competent Authority to take an apposite decision on it in terms of law. WP(C) NO. 15286 OF 2022 3 Resultantly, we allow this writ petition to the limited extent of directing the first respondent to take up Exts.P2 and P3 and dispose of the same, after hearing the petitioner; thus resulting in an appropriate order thereon, as expeditiously as is possible, but not later than three weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment.
Sd/- DEVAN RAMACHANDRAN JUDGE Sd/- SOPHY THOMAS JUDGE stu WP(C) NO. 15286 OF 2022 4 APPENDIX OF WP(C) 15286/2022 PETITIONER EXHIBITS Exhibit P1 TRUE COPY OF THE PROCEEDINGS NO.ROC 6779/90/NS ISSUED BY 1ST RESPONDENT TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD.
Exhibit P2 TRUE COPY OF REQUEST ADDRESSED TO THE 2ND RESPONDENT BY PETITIONER TRUST THROUGH REGISTERED POST ON 07.04.2022.
Exhibit P3 TRUE COPY OF THE REQUEST TO THE 3RD RESPONDENT BY PETITIONER TRUST THROUGH REGISTERED POST.