Kerala High Court
Vasudeva Kammath vs The Travancore Devaswom Board on 13 September, 2024
Author: Anil K. Narendran
Bench: Anil K. Narendran
1
W.P.(C)No.22489 of 2024
2024:KER:70523
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K. NARENDRAN
&
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.G. AJITHKUMAR
FRIDAY, THE 13TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2024 / 22ND BHADRA, 1946
WP(C) NO. 22489 OF 2024
PETITIONER:
VASUDEVA KAMMATH
AGED 53 YEARS
S/O SREENIVASA KAMMATH, KURAVAN PARAMBU MADOM,
NADUVILA VILLAGE, VAIKOM, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT, PIN -
686141
BY ADV. MOHAN C. MENON
RESPONDENTS:
1 THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD
DEVASOM HEAD QUARTERS, NANDANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, PIN - 695003
2 THE DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER
TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD OFFICE, NANTHANCODE,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695003
3 THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD OFFICE, VAIKOM, KOTTAYAM
DISTRICT, PIN - 686141
4 THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, VAIKOM GROUP, VAIKOM
KOTTAYAM DISTRICT, PIN - 686141
5 THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
VAIKOM DEVASWOM, VAIKOM, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT, PIN -
686141
6 THE TEMPLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
VAIKOM DEVASWOM, VAIKOM, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT,
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W.P.(C)No.22489 of 2024
2024:KER:70523
REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT, PIN - 686141
*ADDL.R7 STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL
SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, REVENUE (DEVASWOM)
DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001.
*ADDL.R8 DEPUTY DIRECTOR, KERALA STATE AUDIT DEPARTMENT,
TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD AUDIT, NANTHANCODE,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 005. (ARE SUO MOTU IMPLEADED AS
PER ORDER DATED 24.06.2024 IN WP(C))
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON
13.09.2024, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
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W.P.(C)No.22489 of 2024
2024:KER:70523
JUDGMENT
Anil K. Narendran, J.
The petitioner, who is a devotee of Sree Vaikkathappan, has
filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of
India, seeking a writ of mandamus commanding the 1st
respondent Travancore Devaswom Board to urgently select a
Governing Committee of about 175 to 200 sincere, honest,
experienced and responsible individuals, including the members
of the Temple Advisory Committee, from which an Executive
Committee of 50 is to be shortlisted, from whom a Steering
Committee of about 15 is to be formed (for the day to day
decisions to be taken on the spot), with the active participation
and advice of the Advocate Commissioner and 12 or 15 Sub
Committees (of 20 members each) be formed, in-charge of Food,
Accommodation, Prasadam distribution and packing and
dispatching, publicity, stationary, stage, Kalam, Archana
Mandapam, finance and accounting, reception, office
administration, volunteers, security and counter duty, etc. The
petitioner has also sought for orders/directions, after calling for
periodic reports from the Advocate Commissioner, for the
conduct and successful accomplishment of 2025 Kodi Archana-
2024:KER:70523
Vadakkupurathu Pattu at Vaikom Mahadeva Temple and for the
application of balance proceeds, for the welfare of the temple
and devotees, as was done in the previous years.
Since various orders have already been passed in DBP
No.81 of 2024, we deem it appropriate to close this writ petition,
after suo motu impleading the petitioner herein as an additional
respondent in DBP No.81 of 2024.
Sd/-
ANIL K. NARENDRAN, JUDGE
Sd/-
P.G. AJITHKUMAR, JUDGE
AV/23/9
2024:KER:70523
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 22489/2024
PETITIONER EXHIBITS
Exhibit P1 TRUE COPY OF THE PROCEEDINGS DBP 177/2012,
PURSUANT TO TDBR 184/2012. DEVASWOM
OMBUDSMAN BY ORDER DATED 16.10.2012
Exhibit P2 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER IN DBP 177/2012 DATED
27.2.2018
Exhibit P3 TRUE COPY OF INCOME - EXPENDITURE STATEMENT
OF THE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY AND TREASURER OF
THE COMMITTEE DATED 2.11.2013
Exhibit P4 TRUE COPY OF REPRESENTATION TO THE 1ST
RESPONDENT ON 22.4.2024
