IMPORTANT POINT
The Travancore Devaswom Board has a statutory duty to ensure proper facilities for devotees and manage temple affairs effectively, akin to trusteeship.

ORDER :

Muralee Krishna, J.

This DBP is registered suo motu, vide proceedings dated 30.08.2024, based on a complaint dated 15.08.2024 submitted by the Temple Advisory Committee of Thiru Moozhikkulam temple, addressed to a learned Judge of this Court, pointing out inadequate facilities in the said temple, which is under the management of the 2^nd respondent Travancore Devaswom Board.

2. In the complaint, it was alleged that though the Travancore Devaswom Board spends lakhs of rupees for the construction of temporary roofing and towards electricity expenses, no sufficient parking space was made for the vehicles of the devotees coming to Thiru Moozhikkulam temple. Some suggestions are also made in the complaint regarding the infrastructure facilities to be made in the temple.

3. On 02.09.2024, when this matter came up for consideration, the 7^th respondent Temple Advisory Committee was suo motu transposed as the petitioner/complainant. Notice was ordered to the petitioner/complainant by speed post returnable within four weeks. The learned Senior Government Pleader entered appearance for the 1^st respondent and the learned Standing Counsel for Travancore Devaswom Board for respondents 2 to 6. The 2^nd respondent was directed to place on record an affidavit within four weeks.

4. In pursuance to the above direction, the 2^nd respondent filed an affidavit dated 24.02.2025. Paragraphs 3 to 7 of that affidavit read thus:

“3. It is submitted that the Devaswom Commissioner has directed the Assistant Devaswom commissioner North Paravur to provide adequate facilities other than the basic amenities for the devotees. True copy of the letter No.RDO: 12839/24/NSI dated 02.12.2024 issued by the Deputy Devaswom Commissioner, Travancore Devaswom Board to the Assistant Devaswom Commissioner is produced herewith and marked as Annexure-R2(a).

4. It is submitted that a report from the Assistant Devaswom Commissioner was sought in this regard. He reported that there was little delay in the construction of the Shed in the temple premises during the Nalambala darshanam for the year 1199 ME. That was the main reason for the complaint regarding inadequacy of facilities for the devotees. But, all the works had been completed before 1st of karkidakam, 1199 ME. The entire festival in connection with the karkidaka maasacharanam and Nalambala Darshanam was completed without any room for complaint. The Assistant Devaswom Commissioner, North Paravur has given necessary instructions to the Assistant Engineer, Aluva regarding the maramath works to be completed for Nalambala darshanam in the year 1200 ME.

5. In addition to the above, the Board directed the Chief Engineer to provide necessary facilities for the pilgrims during the Nalambala Darshanam. There will not be any rush in the temple during the rest of the year.

It is submitted that this Honorable court as per the Judgment in WP(C): 25929/2022 directed the Devaswom to provide separate que for senior citizens, differently abled and mentally challenged persons and such other special category of persons and further In DBP 65/2023 directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to provide proper facilities for the devotees during Nalambala Darsanam, by providing separate que for aged and sick persons, drinking water facility, toilet facility etc. and also directed to provide sufficient number of ticket counters and vazhipadu counters. The directions issued by this Hon’ble Court was complied in letter and spirit by providing the above facilities to the devotees in the year 2022, 2023 and also in 2024.

6. It is submitted that in the number of devotees visiting the Moozhikkulam Lakshmana Perumal temple is comparatively very low. Only during the Nalambala Darshanam period in the month of Karkidakam every year, there will be rush in the temple and all arrangements are being made every year to meet this. The demands of the Temple Advisory Committee to Seevelippura, to construct three storied auditorium above the existing structure etc are no