Kerala High Court
Suo Motu vs State Of Kerala on 31 May, 2024
Author: Anil K. Narendran
Bench: Anil K.Narendran
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K.NARENDRAN
&
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HARISANKAR V. MENON
Friday, the 31st day of May 2024 / 10th Jyaishta, 1946
DBP NO. 44 OF 2024
IN THE MATTER OF TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD & COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD - REGARDING
THE CONSTITUTION OF HIGH POWER COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SABARIMALA
MASTER PLAN, APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COMMISSIONER, SABARIMALA, APPOINTMENT OF
OMBUDSMAN FOR TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD & COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD AND ALSO MATTERS
IN RELATION TO THE *(APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF COMMISSIONER, IN THE ABSENCE OF AN
ELECTED BOARD IN THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD AND COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD) AND
ALSO APPOINTMENT OF DEVASWOM COMMISSIONERS - SUO MOTU PROCEEDINGS INITIATED- REG
*THE WORDS "APPOINTMENT OF PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM
BOARD AND COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD" ARE CORRECTED AS ABOVE AS PER ORDER DATED
21/05/2024 IN DBP.NO.44/2024
PETITIONER:
SUO MOTU
RESPONDENTS:
1. STATE OF KERALA
REPRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
REVENUE (DEVASWOM) DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695001.
2. THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, NANTHANCODE, KOWDIAR POST,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695003.
3. THE COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, ROUND NORTH, THRISSUR - 680001.
4. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR
STATE AUDIT DEPARTMENT, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD AUDIT,
NANTHANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695003
5. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR
STATE AUDIT DEPARTMENT, COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD AUDIT,
THRISSUR - 680001.
6. THE HIGH POWER COMMITTEE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF
SABARIMALA MASTER PLAN, REPRESENTED BY ITS MEMBER SECRETARY,
TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, NANTHANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,
KERALA - 695003.
BY SRI.S.RAJMOHAN, SENIOR GOVERNMENT PLEADER
BY STANDING COUNSEL FOR TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD
BY STANDING COUNSEL FOR COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD
THE DEVASWOM BOARD PETITION HAVING COME UP FOR ORDERS AGAIN ON
31/05/2024, UPON PERUSING THE PETITION AND THIS COURT'S ORDER DATED
21/05/2024, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING.
ANIL K. NARENDRAN & HARISANKAR V. MENON, JJ.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
DBP No.44 of 2024
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated this the 31st day of May, 2024
ORDER
Anil K. Narendran, J.
This DBP is registered suo motu, in terms of the directions
contained in the judgment of this Court dated 25.03.2024 in
O.P.No.3821 of 1990, which was one registered suo motu vide
order dated 11.04.1990 in the matter of Travancore Devaswom
Board and Cochin Devaswom Board, on the illegalities,
embezzlements and irregularities in the administration noticed
during consideration of audit reports. In that original petition,
various orders have been issued by this Court in respect of
temples under the management of the Travancore Devaswom
Board and Cochin Devaswom Board. Orders have been passed
regarding the constitution of High Power Committee for
implementation of Sabarimala Master Plan, appointment of a
District Judge as Special Commissioner, Sabarimala, appointment
of an Ombudsman for Travancore Devaswom Board and Cochin
Devaswom Board. Orders have also been passed in the matter of
appointment of the Chief Commissioner, in the absence of an
elected Board in Travancore Devaswom Board and Cochin
Devaswom Board.
2. On 21.05.2024, when this DBP came up for
consideration, this Court noticed that the post of Devaswom
Commissioner in Travancore Devaswom Board is lying vacant. The
learned Standing Counsel for the Travancore Devaswom Board
submitted that the Board has already made a request before the
1st respondent State for deputing a person as Devaswom
Commissioner. The learned Senior Government Pleader submitted
that the said matter is pending before the 1st respondent State.
3. Today, when this matter is taken up for consideration,
the learned Senior Government Pleader would submit that a panel
for appointment of Devaswom Commissioner, Travancore
Devaswom Board will be placed on record along with a memo,
today itself.
4. The learned Standing Counsel for Travancore
Devaswom Board seeks time to get instructions.
5. The learned Standing Counsel for Cochin Devaswom
Board would point out that the term of Devaswom Commissioner,
Cochin Devaswom Board has already expired and the matter has
already been reported to the 1st respondent State for appointment
by way of deputation from the panel submitted by the State.
6. The learned Senior Government Pleader seeks time to
get instructions on the above aspect.
Post on 06.06.2024.
Sd/-
ANIL K. NARENDRAN, JUDGE
Sd/-
HARISANKAR V. MENON, JUDGE
anm
31-05-2024 /True Copy/ Assistant Registrar
