The court emphasizes the necessity of adhering to protocols in religious notifications to avoid offending devotees' sentiments.

K. V. Jayakumar, J.

This Devaswom Board Petition has been registered on the basis of Report No. 71 of 2025 submitted by the learned Ombudsman which pertains to the alleged violation of religious practices during the festival of the Kollam Rameswaram Mahadeva Temple.

2. Sri. Subrahmanian has filed Annexure-1 complaint stating that the notice published in connection with the Thiruvathira Aarattu Maholsavam of the aforesaid temple is in violation of the temple Acharam and the guidelines of the Temple Advisory Committee. It is alleged that the guidelines were issued by the Travancore Devaswom Board by incorporating an advertisement of "Bakez Cube", the sponsor, which contains pictures of non-vegetarian food. The said notice was published by the Temple Advisory Committee. The complainant seeks initiation of action against the Temple Advisory Committee and the officers of the Board responsible for the alleged misconduct.

3. The learned Ombudsman, despite earnest efforts, could not trace the identity of the complainant, as the address shown in the complaint was found to be fake. The Ombudsman was of the view that the exhibition of non-vegetarian food in the notice issued in connection with the temple festival is likely to hurt the feelings of the devotees.

4. We have heard the submissions of Sri. G. Biju, the learned Standing Counsel for the Travancore Devaswom Board, Sri. S. Rajmohan, the learned Senior Government Pleader and Sri. P. Ramachandran, the learned Amicus Curiae for Ombudsman.

5. The learned Standing Counsel for the Travancore Devaswom Board submits that, as per the bye-laws of the Devaswom Board, any notice issued by the Temple Advisory Committee is required to be approved by the Devaswom officials. It is further submitted that correspondence between the Temple Advisory Committee and the Board is to be made on the letterhead and with the seal approved by this Court in D.B.A. No. 10 of 2024. The approval of the notice, in the instant case, was granted by the officers of the Board without noticing the defect.

6. Having considered the submissions of the learned counsel, we deem it appropriate to dispose of this Devaswom Board Petition with a direction to the Devaswom Board and its officials to exercise due diligence while approving notices and brochures issued in connection with temple festivals. The Temple Advisory Committee and the Board shall ensure that such notices and brochures do not contain any objectionable content that may affect the religious sentiments of the devotees.

DBP is disposed of accordingly.

Sd/-