P.R. Ramachandra Menon, J.

1. The petitioner in W.P(C)15406 of 2017 is a devotee of P.D. Manikanteswaram Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple, Kottarakkara, who has approached this Court challenging Ext.P2 order, whereby the price of 'Unniappam Vazhipadu' has been enhanced from Rs. 20/- to Rs.35/- per packet containing 10 Unniappams. The enhancement is stated as exorbitant in all respects, without any regard to the facts and figures in relation to the cost of production and the unlawful enrichment sought to be made by the Devaswom Board at the cost of poor devotees. W.P(C) 18484 of 2017 has been preferred by the Travancore Devaswom Board seeking for police protection to run the vazhipadu counter in the said Temple, which is stated as being forcefully obstructed by the respondents 4 to 9 taking the law into their hands and causing huge loss to the Devaswom. Since the issue involved in both these cases relates to the root cause as to the pricing of Unniappam Vazhipadu in the Temple and the alleged disproportionate escalation of the price, both the cases were heard together, taking W.P( C)No.15406 of 2017 as the lead case.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners, the learned St