IMPORTANT POINT
The Travancore Devaswom Board has a statutory duty to manage Devaswoms and must act on reports of misconduct, ensuring timely compliance with court directives.

ORDER :

(Anil K. Narendran, J.)

The Special Commissioner, Sabarimala, has filed this report enclosing therewith the periodical status report of the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer (Superintendent of Police), Travancore Devaswom Board, in respect of 243 instances of vigilance inspections conducted based on complaints, surprise checks and other enquiries conducted by the Vigilance Wing of the Board regarding malpractices, misconduct, unauthorised absence of temple staff, Devaswom officials, etc., malpractices, irregularities, etc., by the Temple Advisory Committees in the temples under the management of the Board. Among the 243 instances, grave irregularities, 20 in number, are enumerated in paragraph 2 of the report of the Special Commissioner, Sabarimala, in a tabular form.

2. On 29.01.2025, when this SSCR came up for consideration, the learned Standing Counsel for the Travancore Devaswom Board was directed to place on record an affidavit sworn to by the Secretary of the Board regarding the procedure that is being followed by the Board, in terms of the directions contained in Paragraph 23 of the order of this Court dated 09.07.2024 in SSCR No.28 of 2023, with respect to the reports of the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer, which are addressed to the President of the Board.

3. Pursuant to the direction contained in the order dated 29.01.2025, an affidavit dated 28.02.2025 sworn to by the Secretary of the Travancore Devaswom Board is placed on record, on 03.03.2025. Paragraphs 4 to 7 of that affidavit read thus;

“4. It is submitted that the Superintendent of Police (Vigilance) is functioning under the direct control of the President of the Travancore Devaswom Board. The reports prepared by the Chief Vigilance Officer are directly given to the President of the Board. After the order in SSCR 28/2023, all the reports received, except a few, were submitted before the Board. The Board is the disciplinary authority in respect of employees above the cadre of Junior Superintendent. The Devaswom Commissioner and the Chief Engineer are the disciplinary authorities in the cases of officers up to the level of Junior Superintendent

5. After receipt of the order dated 09/07/2024 in SSCR 28/2023, the Board directed the officials to place all the vigilance reports before the Board without delay. Accordingly all endeavors are taken to place the vigilance reports before the Board within a period of one month and on matters which require immediate action the reports are placed before the Board at the earliest. A total of around 147 reports were received after 09/07/2024, and the Board has considered the reports except a few. Steps have already been taken to place the rest also before the Board. Action was taken on most of the reports, and in 15 reports, the Board’s interference is required. The Board is considering all the reports received in terms of the direction issued by this Hon’ble Court and necessary action is being taken as per law.

6. The Board considers the reports and in cases wherein the Board itself has to take action, the same will be done by the Board and the rest will be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for further action. In the cases of allegations against Temple Advisory Committees, the Board will consider the reports and direct the Devaswom Commissioner to take appropriate action.

7. It is respectfully submitted that the Board could not complete the proceedings on all the reports received after the order in SSCR 28/2023 since the President and Board Members were engaged in various activities connected with the Sabarimala Mandalam Makaravilakku Festival 1200 ME. However, the Board will consider and take decision on all the reports submitted by the Superintendent of Police (Vigilance & Security) without delay. It is expected that the Board will be able to consider the reports received so far within a period of three months.”

4. Heard the learned Senior Government Pleader for respondents 1 and 2, the learned Standing Counse