JUDGMENT :

Anil K. Narendran, J.

1. The petitioner, namely, the Temple Advisory Committee of Thirumoozhikkulam Sree Lakshmana Perumal Temple, which is a temple under the management of the 7^th respondent Travancore Devaswom Board, has filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of certiorari to quash Ext.P8 communication dated 01.04.2025 issued by the 1^st respondent Assistant Devaswom Commissioner, North Paravur to the 3^rd respondent Sub Group Officer, Thirumoozhikkulam Group; and a writ of mandamus commanding respondents 1 to 3 not to interdict the petitioner from parading seven elephants on the 9^th day Valiyavilakku Festival of Thirumoozhikkulam Sree Lakshmana Perumal Temple, in view of Exts.P4 to P7. The document marked as Ext.P1 is a copy of the notice published in connection with the annual festival of Thirumoozhikkulam Sree Lakshmana Perumal Temple for the year 1200ME (2025), which is scheduled to be held from 13.04.2025 to 22.04.2025. The Valiyavilakku Festival on the 9^th day is scheduled to be held on 21.04.2025.

2. According to the petitioner, from time immemorial, elephants ranging from five to nine in number are paraded on the 9^th