[Cites 4, Cited by 0]
Kerala High Court
Vijayan T.C vs State Of Kerala on 7 April, 2026
Author: V Raja Vijayaraghavan
Bench: V Raja Vijayaraghavan
2026:KER:30586
WP(C) No.4011/2026
1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V
&
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K. V. JAYAKUMAR
TUESDAY, THE 7TH DAY OF APRIL 2026 / 17TH CHAITHRA, 1948
WP(C) NO. 4011 OF 2026
PETITIONER:
VIJAYAN T.C., AGED 63 YEARS
S/O. CHEKKU CHEENITHUMKANDI VEEDU, VALILLAPUZHA P.O.,
AREEKODE, MALAPPURAM, PIN - 673639
BY ADVS.
SRI.R.KRISHNA RAJ
SRI.R.PRATHEESH (ARANMULA)
SMT.E.S.SONI
SMT.LAXMI PRIYAA N.P.
SHRI.ARUN RAJ
RESPONDENTS:
1 STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY TO
GOVERNMENT, REVENUE(DEVASWOM) DEPARTMENT KERALA
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001
2 MALABAR DEVASWOM BOARD
HOUSEFED COMPLEX, MINI BYPASS RAOD, ERANHIPALAM,
KOZHIKODE REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, PIN - 673006
3 THE COMMISSIONER, MALABAR DEVASWOM BOARD HOUSEFED
COMPLEX, ERANHIPALAM KOZHIKODE, PIN - 673006
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WP(C) No.4011/2026
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4 THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
MALABAR DEVASWOM BOARD HOUSEFED COMPLEX, ERANHIPALAM
KOZHIKODE -, PIN - 673006
5 INSPECTOR, MALABAR DEVASWOM BOARD MANJERI DIVISION
MALAPPURAM, PIN - 676121
6 MANOJ N., AGED 48 YEARS
S/O. LATE CHATHU N. NELLICKAL VEEDU VALILLAPPUZHA P.O.
MALAPPURAM, PIN - 673639
7 SANKARAN NARONGIL, AGED 59 YEARS
S/O. LATE UNNICHATHAN NARONGIL HOUSE KEEZHUPARAMBU P.O.
MALAPPURAM, PIN - 673639
8 KRISHNAN KUNOOR, AGED 66 YEARS
S/O LATE CHANCHU KUNOOR HOUSE, VALILLAPPUZHA P.O.
MALAPPURAM, PIN - 673739
9 GIREESH P.K., AGED 56 YEARS
S/O. LATE APPUKUTTAN PALLIYARAKANDI VEEDU VALILLAPUZHA
P.O., MALAPPURAM, PIN - 673639
10 VISHNU P., AGED 28 YEARS
S/O. SURENDRAN P. KALATHILTHODI HOUSE, VALILLAPUZHA
P.O. MALAPPURAM, PIN - 673639
BY ADVS.
SMT.R.RANJANIE, SC, MALABAR DEVASWOM BOARD
SRI.MAHESH V RAMAKRISHNAN
ADV. RASHMI K.M., SR GP
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD
ON 07.04.2026, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE
FOLLOWING:
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WP(C) No.4011/2026
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JUDGMENT
K. V. Jayakumar, J.
This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of
India, claiming the following relief:
"To restrain the Malabar Devaswom Board from
appointing the respondents 6 to 10 as members of the
non-hereditary trustee board of Thrikkkalayoor Sree
Mahadeva temple as they are ineligible to be appointed by the
issue of a writ of mandamus or such other writ or order or
direction."
2. The petitioner is a devotee of the Thrikkalayoor Sree
Mahadeva Temple. The grievance of the petitioner is that the Malabar
Devaswom Board is proceeding to appoint the party respondents as
non-hereditary trustees of the said temple without duly considering the
complaints submitted by the petitioner and other concerned devotees. These
complaints allege that the party respondents were involved in illegal and
corrupt activities during their tenure as members of the Temple Festival
Committee. It is further alleged that all the party respondents are active
members of the CPI(M).
3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the
Malabar Devaswom Board had issued a notification inviting applications
for the constitution of a non-hereditary trustee board for the Thrikkalayoor
Sree Mahadeva Temple. Upon scrutiny of the applications received, the
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Board shortlisted the party respondents for appointment as members of the
said trustee board. Aggrieved by the proposed appointments, the petitioner
and other devotees submitted complaints before the Devaswom Board,
raising serious allegations of mismanagement, malpractices, and
misappropriation of funds on the part of the party respondents.
4. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner, the party
respondents, who had earlier served as members of the Temple Festival
Committee, have failed to submit audited financial statements for the
financial years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. It is also contended that
irregularities have been noticed in the collections made by the Festival
Committee during their tenure.
5. The learned counsel for the petitioner pointed out that the
respondents 6 to 10 are active workers of CPI(M), a political party, and the
issue is placed before the Area Committee. The learned counsel for the
petitioner further submitted that the area committee of Malabar Devaswom
Board has not considered the objections and the Board is going to appoint
the party respondents as non-hereditary trustees, violating the provisions of
the Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act (for the sake
of brevity, 'the Madras HR & CE Act') and the directives issued by this
Court in Muraleedharan M. v. Malabar Devaswom Board1.
6. In response, Smt. R. Ranjanie, learned Standing Counsel for
the Malabar Devaswom Board, would submit that the appointment of the
2024 KHC 953
2026:KER:30586
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non-hereditary trustees in the temple would be conducted strictly in
accordance with the Madras HR & CE Act, Annexure-R2(1) notice dated
30.07.2025 and the directives issued by this Court from time to time. The
Board will conduct an enquiry as to the alleged misappropriation of funds.
7. We have heard the submissions of Sri. Krishna Raj, learned
counsel for the petitioner and Smt. R. Ranjanie, learned Standing Counsel
for Malabar Devaswom Board and perused the records.
8. The principal grievance highlighted by the petitioner is that the
respondent/Board is trying to appoint non-hereditary trustees, violating the
relevant statutory provisions and disregarding directions issued by this
Court. According to the petitioner, respondents 6 to 10 are disqualified for
appointment under Clauses 3(f) and 3(g) of the notice.
9. Clause 3 of the notice clearly stipulates the disqualifications
for the appointment as non-hereditary trustees. The aforesaid clause reads
thus:
"3. താഴെ പ്രസ്താവിച്ച അയോഗ്യതകളിൽ ഏതെങ്കിലുമൊന്നോ, എല്ലാമോ ഉള്ള
ആളുകൾക്ക് നിയമനത്തിന് അർഹതയുണ്ടായിരിക്കുന്നതല്ല . അതിനാൽ അവർ
അപേക്ഷിക്കേണ്ടതില്ല.
(a) സദാചാരദൂഷ്യമുൾപ്പെടാത്ത വല്ല കുറ്റത്തിനും നാടുകടത്തൽ ശിക്ഷയ്ക്കോ,
ആറുമാസത്തിലധികമായ ഒരു കാലത്തേക്കുള്ള തടവുശിക്ഷയ്ക്കോ ഒരു ക്രിമിനൽ
കോടതി ശിക്ഷിച്ചിട്ടുള്ള ആളുകൾ അങ്ങനെയുള്ള ശിക്ഷ
ദുർബലപ്പെടുത്താതിരിക്കുകയോ അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ആറു മാസമോ അതിൽ കുറവോ
ആയ ഒരു കാലത്തേക്കു ചുരുക്കാതിരിക്കുകയോ അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഗവണ്മെന്റ്
അങ്ങിനെയുള്ള കുറ്റം മാപ്പാക്കാതിരിക്കുകയോ അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ആ ശിക്ഷ ഒരു
അയോഗ്യതയായിത്തീരുന്നതല്ലെന്ന് ഗവണ്മെന്റ് കൽപ്പിക്കാതിരിക്കുകയോ
ചെയ്യുമ്പോൾ.
(b) ദീവാളിയായി വിധി കൽപ്പിക്കപ്പെടുകയോ അല്ലെങ്കിൽ അങ്ങിനെ വിധി
കൽപ്പിച്ചുകിട്ടുന്നതിന് അപേക്ഷിക്കുകയോ ചെയ്തിരിക്കുന്ന ആളുകൾ
(c) മുമ്പുതന്നെ വല്ല കട്ടലായികളുടെയോ ക്ഷേത്രത്തിനോടു ചേർത്ത പ്രത്യേക
ദാനസ്വത്തുക്കളുടെയോ ട്രസ്റ്റികളായിട്ടുള്ള ആളുകൾ
(d) മുമ്പുതന്നെ വല്ല ക്ഷേത്രത്തിന്റെയും ട്രസ്റ്റികളായിരിക്കുകയും ആക്ട് പ്രകാരം
ഏർപ്പെടുത്തപ്പെട്ട കാര്യനിർവ്വാഹക ബോർഡിനാലോ, അധികാരസ്ഥന്മാരാലോ
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നീക്കം ചെയ്യുകയോ, പിരിച്ചയക്കുകയോ ചെയ്യപ്പെടുകയും ചെയ്ത ആളുകൾ.
(e) ഒരു ട്രസ്റ്റിയുടെ പ്രവൃത്തികൾ നിർവ്വഹിക്കുന്നതിന് തങ്ങളെ
അയോഗ്യരാക്കിത്തീർക്കുന്ന ചിത്തഭ്രമമോ, മാനസികമോ, കായികമോ ആയ മറ്റു
ദൂഷ്യമോ, ശേഷികേടോ ഉള്ള ആളുകൾ.
(f) തൊഴിൽപരമായി തിരക്കുപിടിച്ചവർ
(g) സജീവ രാഷ്ട്രീയ പ്രവർത്തകർ, രാഷ്ട്രീയ പാർട്ടികളുടെ ഔദ്യോഗിക പദവികൾ
വഹിക്കുന്നവർ
(h) ദേവസ്വം സ്ഥലം / ഭൂമി / കെട്ടിടം കൈയ്യേറിയവർ
(i) ദേവസ്വത്തിനു താത്പര്യമുള്ള വ്യവഹാരത്തിൽ പ്രതി/ എതിർകക്ഷിയായിട്ടുള്ളവർ
ദേവസ്വത്തിനെതിരായി വ്യവഹാരം ഫയൽ ചെയ്തിട്ടുള്ളവർ."
10. Clause 3(f) would disqualify persons who are busy with their
work or profession. Clause 3(g) would make it clear that active politicians
and persons holding official posts in political parties are disqualified for
appointment as non-hereditary trustees.
11. Ext.P1 is the complaint submitted by the petitioner wherein he
pointed out the political background of respondents 6 to 10. It is also stated
that, if such persons are appointed, they may not get time to actively indulge
in the activities of the temple. Exts.P2 to P4 are similar complaints in this
regard.
12. In Chathu Achan K. v. State of Kerala2, this Court observed
that Persons who are busy with their employment, office bearers of political
parties, active politicians or those indulging in active participation in the
activities of a political party cannot aspire appointment as non-hereditary
trustee of the temple and the Commissioner has to take necessary steps to
ensure that any appointment made as nonhereditary trustee of the temples
under the control of Malabar Devaswom Board is strictly in terms of the
disqualification and eligibility clauses. The alleged disqualifications
(2022 (6) KLT 388)
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(including political activity) are matters of fact to be adjudicated by the
appointing authority with an opportunity of hearing.
13. In Muraleedharan M. (supra), the Division Bench of this
Court issued directions in the matter of appointment of non - hereditary
trustees in Devaswoms/Temples, which are controlled institutions under the
Malabar Devaswom Board. Relevant portion of paragraph 154 of
Muraleedharan M. (supra) is extracted hereunder:
"154. Having considered the submissions made by the learned
Senior Counsel for Malabar Devaswom Board on the above aspect,
we deem it appropriate to issue the following directions in the matter
of appointment of non - hereditary trustees in Devaswoms / Temples,
which are controlled institutions under the Malabar Devaswom
Board, in order to ensure a fair and transparent mechanism for such
appointment, taking into consideration the requirements of the
provisions contained in the Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable
Endowments Act, till rules are made for that purpose under the said
Act.
(i) xxxxxxxx
(ii) Once applications are received, the details of the
applicants shall be exhibited on the notice board of the Devaswom /
Temple, at a prominent place, so as to enable the devotees to point
out the disqualifications, if any, of any of the applicants, by
submitting written objections before the 2nd respondent
Commissioner or the concerned Area Committee, as the case may
be, furnishing therewith their name, address and mobile number.
Those objections shall also be dealt with appropriately by the 2nd
respondent Commissioner or the concerned Area Committee, as the
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case may be, after obtaining individual reports on those complaints
from the concerned Divisional Inspector.
(iii) In the case of Devaswoms / Temples in which
appointment of non - hereditary trustees is made by the concerned
Area Committee, the evaluation of the applicants with reference to
the report of the concerned Divisional Inspector shall be made by a
Committee consisting of a member of the Area Committee to be
nominated by its Chairman, the concerned Assistant Commissioner
and the hereditary trustee of the Devaswom / Temple. In the absence
of a hereditary trustee, the Tantri or Melsanthi of the Devaswom /
Temple shall be a member of that Committee. The said Committee
shall have a comparative assessment of the applicants with specific
reference to the eligibilities and disqualifications provided in the
guidelines dated 18/05/2004 issued by the Commissioner of the
erstwhile Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments
(Administration) Department and the said assessment shall be the
basis for the appointment of non - hereditary trustees by the
concerned Area Committee.
(iv) xxxxxxxx"
14. Having carefully considered the submissions advanced by the
counsel for the parties, and the records placed before us, it is evident that
Clause 3(a) to (j) of the notice dated 30.07.2025 clearly prohibits certain
persons from appointing as non-hereditary trustees. Clauses 3(f) and (g)
specifically prohibit persons who are professionally engaged individuals,
people who are busy with their profession and active politicians and office
bearers of the political party. In view of the directions issued in
Muraleedharan (supra), we deem it appropriate to dispose of this Writ
Petition with a direction to respondents 1 to 4 to consider the objections in
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detail before taking a decision and shall scrupulously verify the veracity of
the allegations raised by the petitioner and thereupon pass appropriate
orders in accordance with law. The Board shall issue notice to the affected
parties and the petitioner and afford them a reasonable opportunity of being
heard before taking a decision with regard to the appointment of
non-hereditary trustees. If the Board, after conducting proper enquiry, finds
that the party respondents are not suitable to be appointed as Non-hereditary
trustees of the temple, it may issue fresh notification inviting applications
from the eligible persons.
The Writ Petition is disposed of as above.
Sd/-
RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V
JUDGE
Sd/-
K. V. JAYAKUMAR
JUDGE
Sbna/
2026:KER:30586
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APPENDIX OF WP(C) NO. 4011 OF 2026
PETITIONER EXHIBITS
Exhibit P-1 TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT FILED BY THE
PETITIONER BEFORE THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER,
MALABAR DEVASWOM BOARD DATED NIL
Exhibit P-2 TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT FILED BY THE VISVA
HINDU PARISHAD BEFORE THE ASSISTANT
COMMISSIONER, MALABAR DEVASWOM BOARD DATED
20.02.2024
Exhibit P-3 TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT FILED BY THE VISVA
HINDU PARISHAD BEFORE THE ASSISTANT
COMMISSIONER, MALABAR DEVASWOM BOARD DATED
18.04.2024
Exhibit P-4 TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT FILED BY THE VISVA
HINDU PARISHAD BEFORE THE ASSISTANT
COMMISSIONER, MALABAR DEVASWOM BOARD DATED
18.04.2024
Exhibit P-5 TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE
PETITIONER TO THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER,
MALABAR DEVASWOM BOARD DATED 31.12.2025
Exhibit P-6 TRUE COPY OF THE REPLY OBTAINED UNDER RIGHT
TO INFORMATION ACT DATED 20.01.2026
Exhibit P-7 TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE
PETITIONER UNDER RTI ACT BEFORE THE ASSISTANT
COMMISSIONER, MALABAR DEVASWOM BOARD DATED
12.03.2025
Exhibit P-8 TRUE COPY OF THE REPLY OBTAINED UNDER RIGHT
TO INFORMATION ACT DATED 25.03.2025
Exhibit P-9 TRUE COPY OF THE REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR,
MALABAR DEVASWOM BOARD, MANJERI DIVISION
DATED 27.12.2025
Exhibit P-10 TRUE COPY OF THE ARGUMENT NOTE SUBMITTED BY
THE PETITIONER DATED 19.12.2025
RESPONDENT ANNEXURES
Annexure-R2(1) The true copy of the Notice dated 30.7.2025
published by the 4th respondent
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Annexure-R2(2) The true copy of the communication dated
30.7.2025 issued by the 4th respondent to the
District Information Officer, Malappuram
Annexure-R2(3) The true copy of the relevant page of paper
cutting in Deshabhimani daily dated 19.8.2025
Annexure-R2(4) The true copy of the Notice dated 26.9.2025
of the 4th respondent
Annexure-R2(5) The true copy of the Circular dated 4.9.2024
published by the 4th respondent
