Recently, a petition has been submitted to the Kerala High Court, aiming to regulate the entry of non-Hindus into temples managed by the Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB), sitting on the Division Bench, have granted the CDB two weeks to respond with a counter-affidavit.
The petitioners, devotees of Lord Poornathrayeesa, have raised objections regarding the use of the temple grounds at Tripunithura for filming purposes. They specifically noted that the Malayalam film Vishesham was partially shot on temple property, with crew members, allegedly of non-Hindu faith, entering the premises. Additionally, they pointed out that various other temples, including Guruvayur, have also been used for film shoots, despite existing restrictions.
The petitioners assert that these activities disrupt temples' sanctity and decorum and may cause worshippers offence. They argue that permitting commercial filming, especially for non-religious themes, violates the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorization of Entry) Rules, 1965. Furthermore, the petitioners criticized the CDB for allegedly permitting individuals under the influence of alcohol to enter temple premises.
As part of their request, the petitioners are seeking court orders to limit non-Hindu access to temples, prevent film production on temple grounds, and restrict entry to intoxicated individuals. During a previous hearing, the CDB’s standing counsel indicated that the board had already begun taking steps to regulate temple activities as per Rule 8 of the relevant regulations and committed to providing a more detailed counter-affidavit by November 25, the date set for the next hearing.
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