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Kerala High Court
The Cochin Devaswom Board vs P.M.Murali on 31 March, 2026
Author: Devan Ramachandran
Bench: Devan Ramachandran
2026:KER:28923
WA NO. 393 OF 2021 &
conn.cases 1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DEVAN RAMACHANDRAN
&
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE BASANT BALAJI
TUESDAY, THE 31ST DAY OF MARCH 2026 / 10TH CHAITHRA, 1948
WA NO. 393 OF 2021
JUDGMENT DATED 26.03.2019 IN WP(C) NO.2503 OF 2018 OF HIGH
COURT OF KERALA
APPELLANT/RESPONDENTS:
1 THE COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD,
DEVASWOM BUILDING, THRISSUR - 680 001,
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY
2 THE SECRETARY, THE COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD,
DEVASWOM BUILDING, THRISSUR-680001
BY ADVS.
SHRI.K.NARAYANAN (PARUR)
K.P.SUDHEER, SC, COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD
RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT:
P.M.MURALI,
AGED 51 YEARS, S/O.MALLU, PANAPARAMBIL HOUSE,
ANNAMANADA P.O., THRISSUR DISTRICT - 680741
BY ADV SHRI.ELVIN PETER P.J. (SR.)
SRI S RAMESH CHANDER-SR.
2026:KER:28923
WA NO. 393 OF 2021 &
conn.cases 2
THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 31.03.2026,
ALONG WITH WA.400/2021, 394/2021 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON
THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
2026:KER:28923
WA NO. 393 OF 2021 &
conn.cases 3
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DEVAN RAMACHANDRAN
&
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE BASANT BALAJI
TUESDAY, THE 31ST DAY OF MARCH 2026 / 10TH CHAITHRA, 1948
WA NO. 400 OF 2021
AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT DATED 26.03.2019 IN WP(C) NO.2342
OF 2018 OF HIGH COURT OF KERALA
APPELLANT/S:
1 THE COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD,
DEVASWOM BUILDING, THRISSUR 680001. REPRESENTED BY ITS
SECRETARY
2 THE SECRETARY,
THE COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD, DEVASWOM BUILDING, THRISSUR-
680001
BY ADVS.
SHRI.K.NARAYANAN (PARUR)
K.P.SUDHEER, SC, COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD
RESPONDENT/S:
SIVANANDAN A.,
AGED 54 YEARS
S/O. KUMARA MENON, AMMAPPILLY HOUSE, CHERUVALOOR,
KORATTY, THRISSUR-680308
BY ADV SHRI.ELVIN PETER P.J. (SR.)
2026:KER:28923
WA NO. 393 OF 2021 &
conn.cases 4
THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 31.03.2026,
ALONG WITH WA.393/2021 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME
DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
2026:KER:28923
WA NO. 393 OF 2021 &
conn.cases 5
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DEVAN RAMACHANDRAN
&
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE BASANT BALAJI
TUESDAY, THE 31ST DAY OF MARCH 2026 / 10TH CHAITHRA, 1948
WA NO. 394 OF 2021
JUDGMENT DATED 26.03.2019 IN WP(C) NO.1538 OF 2018 OF HIGH
COURT OF KERALA
APPELLANTS/RESPONDENTS:
THE COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD,
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, THRISSUR ROUND NORTH,
THRISSUR-680001
BY ADVS.
SHRI.K.NARAYANAN (PARUR)
K.P.SUDHEER, SC, COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD
RESPONDENT/PETITIONER:
P.GIREESHKUMAR,
S/O.GOVINDAN NAIR, VADAPURATH HOUSE, PERUMPALLY P.O.,
ERNAKULAM, PINCODE - 682314
BY ADVS.
SMT.K.A.SANJEETHA
SRI.BALU TOM
SHRI. BEJOY JOSEPH P.J.
2026:KER:28923
WA NO. 393 OF 2021 &
conn.cases 6
THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 31.03.2026,
ALONG WITH WA.393/2021 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME
DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
2026:KER:28923
WA NO. 393 OF 2021 &
conn.cases 7
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DEVAN RAMACHANDRAN
&
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE BASANT BALAJI
TUESDAY, THE 31ST DAY OF MARCH 2026 / 10TH CHAITHRA, 1948
WA NO. 395 OF 2021
JUDGMENT DATED 26.03.2019 IN WP(C) NO.38496 OF 2017 OF HIGH
COURT OF KERALA
APPELLANTS/RESPONDENTS:
1 THE COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD,
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, THRISSUR ROUND NORTH,
THRISSUR - 680 001.
2 THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
THIRUVANJIKKULAM GROUP, COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD,
KODUNGALLOOR, THRISSUR.
3 THE VIGILANCE OFFICER (ENQUIRY OFFICER)
COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD, THRISSUR - 680 001.
4 THE SPECIAL DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER
OFFICE OF THE COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD,
THRISSUR - 680 001.
BY ADVS.
SHRI.K.NARAYANAN (PARUR)
K.P.SUDHEER, SC, COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD
2026:KER:28923
WA NO. 393 OF 2021 &
conn.cases 8
RESPONDENTS/PETITIONER:
T.S. AMBEDKAR,
AGED 47 YEARS
MAASAPPIDI (FORMER), ANNAMANADA DEVASWOM, S/O.SANKARAN,
THEVAPADATH VEEDU, AVITTAPPILLIL DESOM, P.O.MATTATHUR,
MUKUNDAPURAM, THRISSUR - 680 684.
BY ADVS.
SRI.A.RANJITH NARAYANAN
SMT.A.SIMI
THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 31.03.2026,
ALONG WITH WA.393/2021 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME
DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
2026:KER:28923
WA NO. 393 OF 2021 &
conn.cases 9
JUDGMENT
[WA Nos.393/2021, 400/2021, 394/2021, 395/2021]
Devan Ramachandran, J
We had on 27.03.2026, issued an interim order in these matters,
based on certain submissions made before us by Sri.Ramesh Chander,
learned Senior Counsel, instructed by Sri.Govind G. Nair - learned counsel
for some of the respondents.
2. For ease of reference, we extract the afore interim order as
under:-
"Sri.Ramesh Chander, learned Senior Counsel, instructed by
Sri.Govind G. Nair - learned counsel for one of the respondents in these
matters, submitted that these Appeals have now become infructuous
and incapable of prosecution; because, pending them, the Cochin
Devaswom Board has issued an order dated 06.08.2021 modifying the
punishment imposed to all party respondents. He handed over a copy of
the said order across the Bar for our consideration.
Sri.K.P.Sudheer - appearing for the Cochin Devaswom Board
on a fresh engagement, sought a few days' time to confer with his client
and address this Court."
3. Sri.K.P Sudheer - learned Standing Counsel for the Cochin
Devaswom Board, today affirmed that the above recorded submissions of
the learned Senior Counsel are accurate; and that a further order has
been issued by his client. He, however, explained that one of the
employees has filed W.P.(C) No.26409 of 2021 against the subsequent
order, which is still pending before this Court.
2026:KER:28923
WA NO. 393 OF 2021 &
4. Sri.A.Ranjith Narayanan - the learned counsel appearing for
the respondent in W.A No.395 of 2021 affirms that his client has
challenged the order and that the writ petition is pending. He prayed that
his client's contention be left open, notwithstanding the dismissal of these
writ appeals.
5. It is thus ineluctable that nothing remains in these appeals,
when the Cochin Devaswom Board has passed an order subsequent to the
judgment and in compliance thereof.
6. In the afore circumstances, these appeals are dismissed
recording the afore submissions, but without entering into any of the rival
submissions, since we find it to be unnecessary at this stage.
7. Needless to say, our observations therein, or the closure of
the appeals, will not stand in the way of the Cochin Devaswom Board
contesting W.P.(C) No.26409 of 2021 on its merits.
Sd/-
DEVAN RAMACHANDRAN
JUDGE
Sd/-
BASANT BALAJI
JUDGE
Sru
