The Managing Committee of Guruvayoor Temple must implement an effective queue system, incorporating technology for crowd management, ensuring dignified access for all devotees.

JUDGMENT :

K.V. Jayakumar, J.

The Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple is a major Hindu pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Krishna. It is considered the “Dwaraka of South India” and is known as “Bhooloka Vaikuntam” (the abode of Lord Krishna on earth). It is believed that the idol is over 5,000 years old and was worshipped by Lord Krishna himself.

2. The issues involved in the Writ Petitions and the Devaswom Board Petition pertain to the queue system, crowd management, and related matters in Sree Krishna Temple, Guruvayoor. The issues involved in all these Writ Petitions are identical and therefore, all these matters are disposed of by a common judgment. W.P(C). No.41543/2024 is taken as the lead case, and parties and exhibits are hereinafter referred to as in that of the Writ Petition unless otherwise specifically stated.

3. Sri. P. N. Radhakrishnan is the petitioner in W.P.(C) No. 41543/2024. He has submitted a complaint before this Court seeking the reintroduction of the online booking facility for darshan in Sree Krishna Temple, Guruvayoor. This Court registered a suo motu case as D.B.P 94/2024. This Court vide Ext.P1 order dated 13.11.2023 in DBP No.94/2023 has directed the respondents to reconsider the request made by the petitioner for the reintroduction of the online booking facility for free darshan to pilgrims/devotees at Guruvayoor Sreekrishna Temple, and to take an appropriate decision after affording him an opportunity of being heard.

4. The petitioner further states that the number of devotees visiting Guruvayoor Sreekrishna Temple is increasing day by day. Therefore, an alternative mechanism, distinct from the conventional long-standing queue system, is the need of the hour. According to the petitioner, the present system of an unending queue poses serious difficulties for devotees, including elderly women, differently-abled persons, and those coming from distant places. The petitioner further states that during 2022, the COVID pandemic period, the temple authorities implemented an online virtual system and it has been withdrawn irrationally.

5. Sri Sumesh C. M., a devotee of Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple, is the petitioner in W.P.(C) No. 5136/2025. He has highlighted the hardships and difficulties faced by devotees who stand in the queue for hours every day to obtain darshan at Guruvayoor Sreekrishna Temple. According to the petitioner, the available infrastructure in the temple is insufficient to meet the needs of the devotees. He further states that it is the bounden duty of the Managing Committee to ensure adequate facilities for devotees to have a smooth and dignified darshan.

6. Adv. Lekha Suresh submitted a complaint before the Registrar of this Court, narrating the bitter experience she had to endure at Guruvayoor Sreekrishna Temple during the Ekadashi festival in 2024. The complaint submitted by Smt. Lekha Suresh was registered as DBP No. 1/2025 along with other writ petitions.

7. The petitioner W.P(C) No.41543/2024 has claimed the following reliefs:

“a) To call for entire records leading to Ext.P5 and quash the same by issuing a writ of certiorari or any other appropriate writ, order or direction.

b) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction thereby command the respondents 2 & 3 to restore the implementa