P. K. Raveendran v. Cochin Devaswom Board and others

## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ## **`THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K.NARENDRAN`** ``` & ``` ``` THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.G. AJITHKUMAR ``` ``` TUESDAY, THE 26[TH] DAY OF JULY 2022 / 4TH SRAVANA, 1944 WP(C) NO. 22367 OF 2022 ``` ## **`PETITIONER:`** ``` P K RAVEENDRAN, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. KUTTAPPAN, PUTHENKULAM HOUSE, KRISHNA NAGAR, KOLAZHI P.O, THRISSUR 680 010. ``` ``` BY ADVS.M.RAMESH CHANDER (SR.) BALU TOM GOVIND G. NAIR ``` ## **`RESPONDENT/S:`** - **`1 COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, ROUND NORTH, THRISSUR 1, DEVASWOM BUILDING, SWARAJ ROUND, 688 001.`** - **`2 DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER, COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD, ROUND NORTH, THRISSUR 1, DEVASWOM BUILDING, SWARAJ ROUND, 688 001.`** - **`3 DEVASWOM OFFICER, MULAMKUNNATHUKAVU, DEVASWOM, MULAMKUNNATHUKAVU P.O, THRISSUR 680 581.`** - **`4 TEMPLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, SREE KOTTARAM, MOOKAMBIKA TEMPLE, KOLAZHI, THRISSUR 680 010.`** - **`5 SRI. RAJEEV, DEVI KRIPA, KOLAZHI- 680 010, THRISSUR.`** - **`6 M.A SHAN, MALAPPURATH, SIVAGIRINAGAR, KOLAZHI680 010, THRISSUR.`** -2- W.P.(C). No.22367 of 2022 - **`7 GAYA M.J, CHAKAMADATHIL, KOLAZHI 680 010, THRISSUR.`** - **`8 BIPIN DAS, KOTTUVALA, KOLAZHI- 680 010, THRISSUR.`** - **`9 VISWANATHA C.S, KAUSTHUBHAM, KOLAZHI 680 010, THRISSUR.`** - **`10 K. SUDHAKARAN NAIR, KARAMIL, KOLAZHI- 680 010, THRISSUR.`** - **`11 M. MANOJ, MELEVEETTIL, KOLAZHI- 680 010, THRISSUR.`** ``` R1 TO R3 BY SRI K.P.SUDHEER- SC, CDB ``` ``` R5 TO 11 BY ADV.SRI.K.B.ARUNKUMAR ``` ``` THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 26.07.2022, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` -3- W.P.(C). No.22367 of 2022 ## **JUDGMENT** ## Anil K. Narendran, J. The petitioner, who is a devotee of Sree Kottaram Mookambika Temple, Kolazhi, which is under the management of the 1[st] respondent Devaswom Board, has filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of certiorari to quash Ext.P3 notice dated 18.05.2022 issued by the 3[rd] respondent Devaswom Officer of Mulamkunnathukavu Devaswom, publishing the preliminary list of members in the registered mandalam for election to the Temple Advisory Committee of the said temple. The petitioner has also sought for a writ of mandamus commanding respondents 1 to 3 to constitute a new Temple Advisory Committee, by conducting a fresh election, without including respondents 5 to 11, in strict adherence to Ext.P1 bye-law published vide Circular No.A5/2594/10 dated 23.09.2014; and a writ of mandamus commanding respondents 1 to 3 to consider Ext.P4 complaint dated 20.05.2022 made before the 2[nd] respondent Devaswom Commissioner and remove respondents 5 to 11 from Ext.P3 list, i.e., the preliminary list -4- W.P.(C). No.22367 of 2022 of members in the registered mandalam. 2. On 08.07.2022, when this writ petition came up for admission, the learned Standing Counsel for Cochin Devaswom Board took notice on admission for respondents 1 to 3. This Court issued urgent notice on admission by special messenger to respondents 4 to 11, returnable by 11.07.2022. The learned Standing Counsel sought time to get instructions. The 3[rd] respondent Devaswom Officer was directed to take necessary steps to ensure that election to the Temple Advisory Committee of Sree Kottaram Mookambika Temple, Kolazhi, Thrissur, is conducted strictly in accordance with the provisions contained in the bye-law for the formation of Temple Advisory Committee in the temples under the management of the 1[st] respondent Board. 3. On 11.07.2022, when this matter came up for consideration, respondents 5 to 11 entered appearance through counsel and sought time to file counter affidavit. The learned Standing Counsel for Cochin Devaswom Board submitted that the bye-law currently in force shall be placed on record along with the counter affidavit of respondents 1 to -5- W.P.(C). No.22367 of 2022 3. 4. On 19.07.2022, when this writ petition came up for further consideration, the learned counsel for respondents 5 to 11 submitted that a counter affidavit is being filed as Benchmark. The learned Standing Counsel for Cochin Devaswom Board was directed to get instructions from the 3[rd] respondent Devaswom Officer as to the reason for adjourning the meeting of the registered mandalam convened on 10.07.2022, for electing the members of the Temple Advisory Committee of Sree Kottaram Mookambika Temple, Kolazhi. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that a reply affidavit shall be placed on record before the next posting date. 5. Respondents 5 to 11 have filed counter affidavit opposing the reliefs sought for in this writ petition, wherein it is pointed out that the petitioner had earlier approached this Court by filing W.P.(C)No.4941 of 2018 seeking similar reliefs. The learned Standing Counsel for Cochin Devaswom Board would point out that the subject matter of the said writ petition was the previous election to the Temple Advisory -6- W.P.(C). No.22367 of 2022 Committee. 6. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Standing Counsel for Cochin Devaswom Board representing respondents 1 to 3 and also the learned counsel for respondents 5 to 11. 7. The learned Standing Counsel for Cochin Devaswom Board would submit that at present there is no Temple Advisory Committee in Sree Kottaram Mookambika Temple, Kolazhi. The learned Standing Counsel has made available for the perusal of this Court the present bye-law for formation of Temple Advisory Committee in the temples under the management of the Cochin Devaswom Board, which is one issued in terms of Section 76A of the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, which has already been approved by this Court. 8. The grievance of the petitioner is that the election of members to the Temple Advisory Committee of Sree Kottaram Mookambika Temple is not made strictly in terms of the provisions under Ext.P1 bye-law. The petitioner has raised certain allegations against respondents 5 to 11. The said -7- W.P.(C). No.22367 of 2022 respondents have denied those allegations in the counter affidavit dated 18.07.2022, wherein it is pointed out that respondents 7 and 9 were never members of the Temple Advisory Committee. 9. Section 76A of the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act deals with formation of Temple Advisory Committee, which reads thus; "76A. Formation of Temple Advisory Committees.-(1) A committee for each temple in the name "Temple Advisory Committee’’ (name of the Temple)" may be constituted in order to ensure participation of Hindu devotees. (2) The Temple Advisory Committee constituted under sub-section (1) may approved by the Board. (3) The composition of an Advisory Committee under sub-section (1) shall be such as may be prescribed by rules made by the Board, not inconsistent with any practice, prevailing, if any.” 10. Clause 3 of the approved bye-law for the formation of Temple Advisory Committees in temples under the management of the Cochin Devaswom Board deals with membership, which reads thus; **==> picture [352 x 46] intentionally omitted <==** -8- W.P.(C). No.22367 of 2022 നിസവാർ് ്സവനം നട് വാൻ സ്്നാറെ്ര് ്ഷേവസവം അധികാരികൾ്ᨪ് ്ഷ ാ്ധയമ ളളവര ം ത്രായ രൂർ്തിയായവര മായ ഏറത്ാര ഹി്മ വിന ം ്ഷേത്ത് ഉര്ഷേശ്ക സമിത്ിയിൽ . അംഗത്വ്തിന് അർഹത് ഉ്ᩂായിരി്ᨪ ം ്ഷേത്ത് ഉര്ഷേശ് സമിത്ിയിൽ അംഗമാക ്രവർ ്ഷേത്ത്വ മായി ്യറ്ᩔ്ടവര ം ്ഷേത്ത ിന്ററ ആചാരരരമായി ഭൂത്ര്ഷേശ ളിൽ ഉൾറ്ᩔട ്ര വര ം രതിവായി ്േതത ിൽ വര ്വര ം. ്േതതര ്രാഗതി് ്വ്ി തരവർ്ി് ്വര ം ്ഷേത്ത ിന്ററ ച ്റ വ്ട്ത് ജനി്ച വളർ്ര് ഔ്ഷേയാഗിക ആവശ്യ്ങൾ്ᨪായി േൂറര ത്ാമസി്ᨪ ്രവര മായ ഹി്മ ്ᨪളായി ജനി്ച എ്ᩤാവർ്ᨪ ം ്ഷേത്ത് ഉര്ഷേശ്ക . സമിത്ിയിൽ അംഗ്ങളാകാം എ്രാൽ ്ധി്ഽിരത്യി ്ᩤാ്തവർ്ᨪ ം, സവഭാവേൂഷയ്ാ് ാ േ രാചാര്ാ് ാ തകിമി നൽ ്കസ കളിൽ ശിേി്റ്്വർ് ം, സാ്്ിക തകമ ്്ട കളിൽ ഉൾറ്്വർ് ം, മ ൻര ്േ്തതാര്േശക സമി തികളിൽ തരവർ്ി്ച് നിയമരഹിതമായ തരവർ്ന്ളിൽ ഏർറ്്വർ് ം, ്േതതസവ്ത് കക്േറി കകവശം റവ്ിരി് ്വർ് ം അംഗത്വ്തിന് അർഹത്യ ്ᩂായിരി്ᨪ ്രത . ്ഷേത്ത് ഉര്ഷേശ്ക സമിത്ി ത്ിരറെട ്ᨪ ്രത്ിന് ഒര ജനറൽ ്ഷ ാഡി രൂരീകരി്ഷ്ᨪ്ᩂത്ാെ്. ആയത്ിന് റകാ്ചിൻ ്ഷേവസവം ്ഷ ാർഡ് ഒര അ്ഷരേ ്ഷ ാം വിത്രെം റചേ ്രത് ം, ്ഷേത്ത് ഉര്ഷേശ്ക സമിത്ിയിൽ അംഗമാകാൻ ആത്ഗഹി ്ᨪ ്രവർ ടി ്ഷ ാറം രൂരി്ᩔി്ച് നൽ്ഷക്ᩂത്ാെ്. അത്രകാരം ഭി്ᨪ ്ര അ്ഷരേകര റട വിവരം രരി്ഷശ്ാധി്ച് കരട് ി്ഹ് ്ഷേത്ത ിന്ററ ്ഷനാ്ടീസ് ്ഷ ാർഡിൽ ത്രസി്ധറ്ᩔട ്തി രരാത്ി സമർ്ᩔി്ᨪ വാൻ 10 േിവസറ്ത സമയം നൽക കയ ം ഭി്ച രരാത്ികൾ രരി്ഷശ്ാധി്ച് അ്ᩌിമ ി്ഹ് 10 േിവസ ്തിനകം ്ഷേത്ത ിന്ററ ്ഷനാ്ടീസ് ്ഷ ാർഡിൽ ത്രസി്ധറ്ᩔ ട ്ഷ്ത്ᩂത് ം ആയത്ിന ്ഷശ്ഷ്ം 7 േിവസ്തിനകം അ്ഷരേ കര റട ജനറൽ ്ഷ ാഡി വിളി്ഷ്ᨪ്ᩂത് മാെ്. ജനറൽ ്ഷ ാഡി വിളി്ᨪ ്രത്ിന ്ᩦ അറിയി്ᩔ് അത്ാത ്ഷേത്ത് ്ഷനാ്ടീസ് ്ഷ ാർഡിൽ ത്രസി്ധറ്ᩔട ്ഷ്ത്ᩂത്ാെ്. ടി ജനറൽ ്ഷ ാഡി യിൽ ്ഷേവസവം ഓ ീസറ റട അ്ധയേത്യിൽ ്ഷേത്ത് ഉര്ഷേ ശ്ക സമിത്ിറയ ത്ിരറെട ്ഷ്ᨪ്ᩂത്ാെ്. ത്ിരറെട ്ᨪ ്രത്ിന് ഒരാൾ്ᨪ് ഒരാള റട ്ഷരര് നിർ്ഷേശ്ി്ᨪാവ ്രത് ം ഒരാറള രിൻത്ാ്ങാവ ്രത് മാെ്. അത്രകാരമ ്ᩦ ത്ിരറെട ്ᩔിൽ സമവായം വരാ്ത രേം റരാത് ്ഷയാഗം നിർ്തി വ്ച് ്ഷേവസവം ഓ ീസർ വിവരം ്ഷ ാർഡ് മ ്മാറക റി്ഷ്ᩔാർ്ട് റച്ഷേ്ᩂത് ം ്ഷ ാർഡിന്ററ ത്ര്ഷത്യക അന മത്ി വാ്ങി ്ഷേത്ത് ഉര്ഷേശ്ക സമിത്ിറയ ജനറൽ ്ഷ ാഡി അംഗ്ങളിൽ നി്ര ം ്ഷനാമി്ഷന്റ് റചോവ ്രത് ം ആയത അസി്ഹന്റ് ക്മിഷ്െറ റട ശ് രാർശ് -9- W.P.(C). No.22367 of 2022 സഹിത്ം ്ഷ ാർഡ് മ ്മാറക സമർ്ᩔി്ച് അംഗീകാരം വാ്ഷ്ങ്ᩂത് മാെ്. ഇത്രകാരമ ്ᩦ രരമാവധി 21 ്ഷരര റട ി്ഹിൽ നിർ ്യമായ ം ഒര വനിത്യ ം SC/ST അംഗവ ം ഉ്ᩂായിരി ്ᨪെം. ഭാരവാഹിത്വ്തിൽ അ്ഛൻ, അ്മ, മ്ᨪൾ എ്രിവരിൽ നി്ര ം ഒരാൾ മാത്ത മ രാട ്ᩦൂ.” (underline supplied) 11. Section 31A of the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act deals with the formation of the Temple Advisory Committees, which reads thus; ## **“31A. Formation of Temple Advisory Committees** (1) A Committee for each temple in the name 'Temple Advisory Committee" (name of the temple) may be constituted in order to ensure participation of Hindu devotees. (2) The Temple Advisory Committee constituted under sub-section (1) may be approved by the Board. (3) The composition of an Advisory Committee under sub-section (1) shall be in such manner as may be prescribed by rules made by the Board, not inconsistent with any practice, prevailing, if any.” 12. In **Chandu K. v. Travancore Devaswom Board** **[2021 (3) KHC 379]** a Division Bench of this Court held that, with the insertion of Section 31A to the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act the formation of Temple Advisory Committees in temples has become -10- W.P.(C). No.22367 of 2022 statutory. In the said decision, the Division Bench noticed that, the Travancore Devaswom Board, in exercise of the rule making power under clause (a) of sub-section (2) of Section 35 of the Act, has framed rules for the formation of Temple Advisory Committees in temples under the Travancore Devaswom Board and this Court has approved the draft byelaws by the order dated 03.11.2011 in DBA No.153 of 2009. Clause (11) of the Rules deals with the term of office of the Temple Advisory Committee. As per Clause (11), the term of office of the Temple Advisory Committee shall be two years from the date of approval of the election by the Devaswom Commissioner. The Devaswom Commissioner has the authority to extend the term of the committee by one year in case of development works or unavoidable rituals in the temple. The Board will have the power to extend the term by a further period of one year. The term shall not to be extended beyond the period of two years. Thus, the term of the committees is statutorily fixed. The term can be extended by one year or upto two years under certain unavoidable circumstances and no longer. The object of providing duration -11- W.P.(C). No.22367 of 2022 of office of Temple Advisory Committees in the approved byelaws is to see that timely elections are held and the constitution of the Committees are not delayed. The power of the Devaswom Commissioner or the Board to extend the term of the Temple Advisory Committee, which is fixed as per the approved bye-laws, shall not be exercised as a matter of course. They shall call for report regarding the developmental work going on in the temple concerned or the unavoidable rituals to be carried out in the temple concerned and apply their mind to the materials and form a decision as to whether extension of term has to be given or not. 13. The provisions under Section 31A of the Act which deals with constitution of Temple Advisory Committees in the temples under the management of Travancore Devaswom Board is _pari materia_ with the provisions under Section 76A of the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, which deals with formation of Temple Advisory Committee in the temples under the management of Cochin Devaswom Board. Therefore, the law laid down by this Court in **Chandu K. [2021 (3) KHC 379]** has application with equal force in the -12- W.P.(C). No.22367 of 2022 matter of election to the Temple Advisory Committees in the temples under the management of the Cochin Devaswom Board. 14. As already noticed hereinbefore, Clause 3 of the approved bye-laws deals with the eligibility and disqualifications for being a member in the registered mandalam for electing the members of the Temple Advisory Committee of the temple. The provisions of Clause 3 makes it explicitly clear that, for appointment as member of the Temple Advisory Committee of the temple, the applicant should be a regular worshipper of the temple, who is prepared to actively work for the betterment of the temple, etc.. The said clause provides for disqualifications for being a member of the registered mandalam. Therefore, it is for the 2[nd] respondent Commissioner to take necessary steps to ensure that the election of members of the Temple Advisory Committee of Sree Kottaram Mookambika Temple, Kolazhi under the control of Cochin Devaswom Board is conducted strictly in terms of the provisions under the approved bye-law. 15. The learned Standing Counsel for Cochin -13- W.P.(C). No.22367 of 2022 Devaswom Board would submit that since there was no consensus in the meeting of registered mandalam convened on 10.07.2022 to elect the members of the Temple Advisory Committee in Sree Kottaram Mookambika Temple, Kolazhi, the 3[rd] respondent Devaswom Officer has reported the said fact to the 2[nd] respondent Devaswom Commissioner. The Devaswom Commissioner shall take an appropriate decision as to the eligibility and the disqualifications, if any, of those included in the list published along with Ext.P3 notice dated 18.05.2022, with notice to the petitioner, respondents 5 to 11, and also any other persons interested, and thereafter finalise the list of members in the registered mandalam, so as to enable the 3[rd] respondent Devaswom Officer to convene a meeting of the members in the registered mandalam to elect the members of the Temple Advisory Committee of Sree Kottaram Mookambika Temple, Kolazhi. In such circumstances, this writ petition is disposed of by directing the 2[nd] respondent to take necessary steps to finalise the list of members in the registered mandalam for election to the Temple Advisory Committee of the temple in question, in -14- W.P.(C). No.22367 of 2022 accordance with law, with notice to all persons interested, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment. Based on the decision so taken, the 3[rd] respondent shall take steps to convene a meeting of the registered mandalam for electing the members of the Temple Advisory Committee of Sree Kottaram Mookambika Temple, and the entire exercise in this regard shall be completed within a further period of two months. **Sd/-** ## **ANIL K. NARENDRAN, JUDGE** **Sd/-** ## **P.G. AJITHKUMAR, JUDGE** AV/1/8 -15- W.P.(C). No.22367 of 2022 ## **`APPENDIX OF WP(C) 22367/2022`** ``` PETITIONER EXHIBITS ``` ``` Exhibit P1 PHOTOSTAT COPY OF THE CIRCULAR NUMBERED A5/2594/10 DATED 23.09.2014, ALONG WITH THE APPROVED BYE-LAWS, ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT. ``` ``` Exhibit P2 PHOTOSTAT COPY OF THE ORDER OF THIS HON'BLE COURT IN WPC NO. 4941 OF 2018 DATED 25.11.2019. ``` ``` Exhibit P3 PHOTOSTAT COPY OF THE NOTICE DATED 18.05.2022 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT, ALONG WITH THE LIST OF NOMINEES. ``` - **`Exhibit P4 PHOTOSTAT COPY OF THE COMPLAINT SENT BY THE PETITIONER TO THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED 20.05.2022.`** ``` Exhibit P5 PHOTOSTAT COPY OF THE RTI APPLICATION SENT BY MR. RAJENDRAN TO THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT DATED 20.05.2022. ``` ``` Exhibit P6 PHOTOSTAT COPY OF THE REPLY TO THE EXT. P5 RTI APPLICATION ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT. ``` ``` Exhibit P7 PHOTOSTAT COPY OF THE NOTICE ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT DATED 10.07.2022. ``` ``` Exhibit P8 PHOTOSTAT COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION FILED BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT BY MR. RAJENDRAN DATED 05.07.2022. ```