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2023 Supreme(Online)(KER) 23751
HIGH COURT OF KERALA
ANIL K. NARENDRAN, P. G. Ajithkumar, JJ
SUNIL KUMAR.K.S
– Appellant
Versus
THE SECRETARY – Respondent
DBP 81 2019
P.NANDAKUMAR, AMRUTHA SANJEEV, K.P.SUDHEER, SC, COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD, G.BIJU, SC, KERALA DEVASWOM RECRUITMENT BOARD
The court established that the Cochin Devaswom Board must ensure transparency in appointments and prioritize select list candidates for vacant positions.
Headnote:
Employment - Kazhakom Recruitment - Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act - Section 73A - Summary of the Court's Decision
Fact of the Case:
The case concerns recruitment and appointment issues for the Kazhakom post in temples under the Cochin Devaswom Board, as various complaints were raised regarding the non-utilization of the valid select list and arbitrary appointments of casual employees.
Finding of the Court:
The court affirmed the necessity for the Cochin Devaswom Board to comply transparently with recruitment processes and prioritize candidates from the select list, while also addressing issues related to casual appointments, that must be regulated and reported appropriately.
Issues: Whether the Cochin Devaswom Board failed to report available vacancies from the select list for the Kazhakom position, and the legality of casual appointments being made without transparency.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the fiduciary duty of the Cochin Devaswom Board to act responsibly in recruitment matters, ensuring transparency and adherence to the proper appointment procedures for Kazhakom positions.
Final Decision: The court disposed of the petitions with directions for compliance with recruitment regulations and transparency.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K.NARENDRAN &
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.G. AJITHKUMAR MONDAY, THE 9TH DAY OF JANUARY 2023 / 19TH POUSHA, 1944 D.B.P.NO. 50 OF 2020 IN THE MATTER OF TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD - TDB PROCEEDINGS INITIATED - REG.
------------ PETITIONERS:
1 ADARSH A.G., SCREENA, VILAIKKADU, MADAVOOR P.O., PALLIKKAL, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 602.
2 AJITH KRISHNAN K.S., KIZHAKKUMKARA PUTHENVEEDU, THENGUMKODE K.T. KUNNU P.O., KOLLAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 608.
3 AKHILRAJ S., KODAKULANGARA, PADINJATTATHIL, MENAMPALLY, MUKUNDAPURAM, P.O. CHAVARA - 691 585.
4 BINU M.R., MANKEESHAPPADY, AYMANAM P.O., KOTTAYAM - 686 015.
5 BINU CHANDRAN B.L., PANDARAVILA VEEDU, THENGUMKODU, K.T. KUNNU P.O., KALLARA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 608.
6 BIJU K., KOTTOOR HOUSE, KODAKKAD, OLAT P.O., KASARAGOD - 671 310.
7 GOKUL J.M., SUKESINI SADANAM, KIDAYARAKONAM, VENPAKAL P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 123.
8 GOPU M.P., KIZHAKKEVEEDU, TC.18/1292(2), ARAMADA P.O., THRUKKANNAPURAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 032.
9 HARIKRISHNAN C.V., LAKSHMI NIVAS, PORUVAZHI (NADUVIL), CHATHAKKULAM P.O. - 690 520.
10 MAHESH M., PUTHENVEETTIL THAZHATHIL, MUTTOM P.O., THUMPAMON, PATHANAMTHITTA - 689 502.
11 NITHINKUMAR S., THEKKEVILA VEEDU, CHILAMPIL - 695 305.
12 NIKHIL S.P., SANKARAMANGALAM, THAMALLAKKAL P.O., HARIPPADU, ALAPPUZHA - 690 548.
13 PATHMALAL P., PUTHANVEEDU, KOZHIKKODU, S.V. MARKET P.O., KARUNAGAPPALLY - 690 573.
14 PRAVEENKUMAR S., KANNANUNNI, KARIMCHEMPANADU, KADAMPARA, POOZHANADU P.O., KATTAKKADA, THIRUVANANTHAPRUAM - 695 125.
15 REMESH R., RAJESH BHAVANAM, MARANADU P.O., EZHUKONE, KOLLAM - 691 505. 16 RANJITH R., KAILAS, MUTHUKATTUKARA, NOORANADU P.O., ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT - 690 504.
17 SUJITH S., KILITHATTIL VEEDU, VATTAYAM, VELLUMANNADI P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 607.
18 SIVAKUMAR S.R., KURUNTHANKUDI VEEDU, AYYAPPA NAGAR, KARALI, PARASSALA P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
19 SUNILKUMAR K., ALUMVILA PADITTATHIL, SANDHOSH BHAVANAM, KARIMULAKKAL, KOMALLUR P.O., ALAPPUZHA - 690 505. 20 SREEJITH MOHAN GOPALA NIVAS, MEKKOLLA DHANUVACHAPURAM P.O., 21 SREERAJ M., SREENILAYAM, PANKONAM, MUKHATHALA P.O., KOLLAM - 691 577.
22 SREERAJ U.P,.
KANNAMBALLIL MADOM, EEZHAKKADAVU POST, MAVELIKKARA, ALAPPUZHA - 690 104.
23 VARUN GOVIND K., MADATHIPARAMBU HOUSE, RAMAVARMAPURAM P.O., THRISSUR VILLADAM, PIN - 680 631.
24 VISHNU ARAVIND A., C.S. BHAVAN, KOOTTAPPARA, NEYYATTINKARA P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 121.
25 VISHNU R., JAYABHAVAN, THRIKKOVILVATTOM, MUKHATHALA P.O., KOLLAM - 691 577. 26 VIJEESH R., VIJAYA BHAVANAM, KAREELAKKULANGARA P.O., KARUVATTUMKUZHI, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT - 690 572.
27 ANOOP A.T., ELAMPAKKATU HOUSE, THANKALAM, KOTHAMANGALAM P.O., ERNAKULAM DISTRICT - 686 691.
28 BIJOY CHANDRASEKHARAN P., VANALA PUTHANVEEDU, N.A.D. P.O., ALUVA - 683 563.
29 GOKUL A.R., KAILASAM, KAMURAKKONAM, KONCHIRA P.O., VEMBAYAM - 695 615.
30 HARIKRISHNAN M., MOHANA SADANAM, MALAYIL, VELIYAM P.O., KOTTARAKKARA, KOLLAM DISTRICT - 691 540.
31 PRAVEEN M.K., MEETHALE KONOTH HOUSE, EAST KADIRUR, THALASSERY, KANNUR - 670 642.
32 PRAMOD A.P., SREENILAYAM, KANNNGODU, VENJARAMOODU P.O.-695 607.
33 RAJKUMAR S., CHEKKANIYKKAL VEEDU, PURAVOOR, CHIRAYINKEEZHU P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DIST., PIN - 695 304.
34 RAJANEESH R., RADHA MANDIRAM, VELIYANNOOR P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 543.
35 ROTHISH G., KUTTUCHAL VEEDU, MUDAKKAL P.O. - 695 103.
36 SUNILKUMAR S., S.S. NIVAS, ULIYAKKOVIL P.O., KOLLAM - 691 019.
37 VISHNU DAS V.M., VATTATHUPARAMBIL, KOTTANELLOORE P.O., VELAYANAD - 680 662.
38 VAISAKHMOHAN M., VAISAKH BHAVAN, AAZHIMALA, PULINKUDY, MULLOOR P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 521.
39 VINOD R., THIRUPPATHY BHAVAN, KUMUKUMCHERY, AAVANEESWARAM P.O., KOLLAM - 691 508.
BY ADV SUO MOTU RESPONDENTS:
1 THE SPECIAL DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD, THRISSUR.
2 THE SECRETARY COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD, THRISSUR SRI K.P. SUDHEER -STANDING COUNSEL - COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD OTHER PRESENT:
SRI S.RAJMOHAN- SR GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI P.RAMACHANDRAN- AMICUS CURIAE SRI V.V. NANDAGOPAL NAMBIAR
