JUDGMENT

Anil K. Narendran, J.

The petitioner has filed this Contempt Case, alleging non-

compliance of the directions contained in Annexure AI judgment of this Court dated 01.02.2022 in W.P.(C)No.29342 of 2021, whereby that writ petition along with connected matters were disposed of with the directions contained therein.

2. On 08.04.2022, when this Contempt Case came up for admission, the learned Standing Counsel for Travancore Devaswom Board sought time to get instructions.

3. On 11.04.2022, when this Contempt Case came up for consideration, this Court has passed the following order;

“Pursuant to the order of this Court dated 08.04.2022, this contempt case is listed today for consideration, with a direction to the learned Standing Counsel for Travancore Devaswom Board to get instructions. The learned Standing Counsel on instructions would submit that on 14.03.2022, the Deputy Devaswom Commissioner, Thiruvananthapuram, directed the respondent herein, the Assistant Devaswom Commissioner, Neyyattinkara Group, to conduct festival in Major Vellayani Devi Temple directly by the Department and also to conduct election to the Temple Advisory Committee. There occurred some delay in conducting election to the Temple Advisory Committee, in term of the directions contained in paragraph 12 of Annexure A1 judgment dated 01.02.2022, since the Temple festival commenced on 27.03.2022.

2. Pursuant to the order dated 14.03.2022 of the Deputy Devaswom Commissioner, the Assistant Devaswom Commissioner has already issued a notification dated 08.04.2022, whereby applications are invited from the devotees for membership in the registered mandalam.

3. The respondent to file an affidavit explaining the facts and circumstances within three weeks.

4. Petitioner to file reply affidavit, if any, within a period of three weeks from the date of receipt of the affidavit of the respondent.”

4. Today, when the case is taken up for consideration, the learned Standing Counsel for Travancore Devaswom Board would submit that, after complying with the statutory requirements, the meeting of the 'registered mandalam' for conducting election to the Temple Advisory Committee of Major Vellayani Devi Temple is scheduled to be held on

15.06.2022.

5. Having considered the submissions made by the learned counsel on both sides, we deem it appropriate to close this contempt case, recording the aforesaid statement made by the learned Standing Counsel for the Board.

Accordingly, this contempt case is closed, recording the aforesaid statement.

Sd/-

ANIL K. NARENDRAN JUDGE Sd/-

P.G. AJITHKUMAR JUDGE

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APPENDIX PETITIONER'S ANNEXURES:

Annexure AI THE CERTIFIED COPY OF THE COMMON JUDGMENT DATED 01/02/2022 IN W.P.(C)

NO. 29342/2021 ON THE FILE OF HIGH COURT OF KERALA Annexure AII COPY OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FELICITATION FUNCTION OF PRESENTING OF PONNADA TO SMT. SEENA BY THE DEVASWOM BOARD MEMBER ON 03/04/2022 Annexure AIII A TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE OF THE FESTIVAL OF MAJOR VELLAYANI DEVI TEMPLE CONDUCTED FROM 27/03/2022 TO

04/04/2022 RESPONDENT ANNEXURES ANNEXURE-R(a) True copy of the letter dated

14/03/2022 issued by the Devaswom Commissioner Annexure-R(b) True copy of the notice dated

08/04/2022 issued by the Assistant Devaswom Commissioner, Neyyattinkara TRUE COPY P.A. TO JUDGE