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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
ANIL K.NARENDRAN, MURALEE KRISHNA S.
Sabarimala Special Duty Employees – Appellant
Versus
Travancore Devaswom Board – Respondent
Key Points: - The court held that complaints regarding deployment of Devaswom employees during Mandala-Makaravilakku festival seasons must be addressed through writ petitions under Article 226. (!) - The Ombudsman’s reports noting ongoing issues with employee deployment are to be considered in light of existing judicial directives, and complaints should be pursued in writ jurisdiction rather than through the Ombudsman for guidelines. (!) (!) - The court disposed of the DBP, directing that complaints regarding deployment should be resolved under writ jurisdiction, and issued procedural directions for staffing and reporting related to special duty deployments at Sabarimala, including timelines and publication requirements. (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) - The matter references and reiterates adherence to the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act provisions governing administration, supervision, and control by the Travancore Devaswom Board, including Sections 3, 4, 15, 15A, and 16. (!) (!) (!) (!)
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. provisions of the travancore-cochin hindu religious institutions act (Para 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8) |
| 2. issues and guidelines regarding employee deployment (Para 9 , 10) |
| 3. conclusion and directives for employee deployment (Para 12) |
ORDER :
Anil K. Narendran, J.
This DBP is registered based on Report No.13 of 2025 of the learned Ombudsman in Complaint No.18 of 2025 made by Sabarimala Special Duty Employees. The said report of the learned Ombudsman reads thus;
“The grievance of the complainant in this case is that there was no guidelines provided for posting employees at Nilakkal during festival season. Particular employees alone were given preference for such postings. If all the employees are posted at different places in Sabarimala so that they may be able to get allowance as in the case of other employees. Some guidelines will have to be framed for this purpose for which they approached the Ombudsman.
Devaswom Commissioner has filed report dated 18.02.2025 denying the allegations. However, on enquiry it was revealed from the Liaison Officer that in respect of complaints from Sabarimala, there is already a matter pending before the Honourable High Court as DBP No.116 of
The court ruled that complaints about deployment of Devaswom employees during festivals must be addressed through writ petitions, emphasizing adherence to existing judicial guidelines.
The existing provisions under the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act and previous court orders adequately govern staff deployment for special duties during festivals, limiting grounds....
Point of Law : Mandala-Makaravilakku Festival of 1197 ME - Administration - to ensure that sufficient number of staff in the Establishment Wing of the Board and Class-IV employees are deployed for sp....
The Travancore Devaswom Board must verify credentials of officers before postings to ensure integrity and proper management of religious institutions.
The court established that the Travancore Devaswom Board has a robust obligation to manage and protect the properties of Devaswoms, reinforcing the necessity for careful credential scrutiny of staff ....
The Ombudsman for Devaswom Boards is mandated to address public interest complaints regarding mismanagement, while personal grievances of employees must be resolved through appropriate legal channels....
The Travancore Devaswom Board has a statutory duty to manage Devaswoms and must act on reports of misconduct, ensuring timely compliance with court directives.
‘Worshipper’ is a person who shows reverence and adoration for a deity - Right to worship is a civil right, of course in an accustomed manner and subject to the practise and tradition in each temple.
The Travancore Devaswom Board is obligated to ensure the uninterrupted performance of traditional rites and manage crowd safety during religious festivals, safeguarding the rights of worshippers.
The Ombudsman for the Travancore Devaswom Board cannot entertain individual employee grievances regarding service matters; such issues must be raised in a writ petition under Article 226.
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