DEVAN RAMACHANDRAN, J.

1. The post of “Melshanthi” of the famed Sabarimala Temple is perhaps the most coveted of such positions in any other temple and it, therefore, is the ultimate grace aspired and sought for by every priest each year.

2. The process of selection to this post is ardous, with the final approval obtained from the divine providence itself, since the most qualified of all candidates is, at the end, chosen by draw of lots in front of the Sanctum, under the benign watch of the deity.

3. An aspirant to this post for the year has, in this Writ Petition, called into question the validity of a particular eligibility criterion, fixed by the Travancore Devaswom Board (hereinafter 'TDB' for brevity), for candidates applying for this.

4. The petitioner is one among the many who have applied to take part in the selection process leading to the appointment of 'Melsanthi' at the Sabarimala temple. He alleges that, he is now incapacitated from taking part in the process because, as per the relevant notification issued by the TDB, a copy of which is appended to this writ petition as Ext.P1, only a 'Santhi'(Priest) who has had 12 years experience, out of which 10 years being