JUDGMENT

Anil K. Narendran, J.

'Melsanthies' of Sabarimala Devaswom (Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple) and Malikappuram Devaswom (Malikappuram Temple) are appointed for a period of one year. Every year, the Travancore Devaswom Board invites applications for appointment of Melsanthies of Sabarimala Devaswom and Malikappuram Devaswom and makes appointments following the procedure prescribed. The notification issued for the year 1193ME (2017-18) is in question in W.P.(C)No.26003 of 2017. The notification issued for the year 1197ME (2021-22) is in question in the other writ petitions, i.e., W.P.(C)Nos. 13823, 13834, 14067, 14136, 14283 and 14484 of 2021. In all the writ petitions, the challenge is against the eligibility criteria prescribed in those notifications that the applicant shall be a ‘Malayala Brahmin’. Since the questions involved are common, these writ petitions were heard together.

1.1. Going by the averments in the writ petitions, the petitioner in W.P.(C)No.26003 of 2017 is working as Melsanthi at Sree Subramanian Swamy Temple, Pallom, Kottayam District; the petitioner in W.P.(C)No.13823 of 2021 is working as Melsanthi at Valavanad Puthenkavu Devi Temple, Pollethai, Alap