The court upheld the Ombudsman's recommendation to appoint a permanent employee to prevent future corruption in temple management without further judicial intervention.

K. V. Jayakumar, J.

This matter pertains to certain irregularities in the conduct of Vazhipadu in Valliyamkavu Devi Temple under the Mundakayam Group of Travancore Devaswom Board.

2. One Arun Das K. has filed a complaint alleging that a retired Kazhakam employee of the Valliyamkavu Devi Temple coming under the Mundakayam Group of Travancore Devaswom Board has indulged in corrupt activities by accepting amounts from the public offering them jobs in the temple.

3. The complaint states that at Valliyamkavu Temple there is a special vazhipadu known as “Vellamkudi” offered to the deity Karimkuttiyan Moorthi. It is alleged that devotees, for the purpose of performing this vazhipadu, bring expensive liquor as part of the offering. According to the complaint, the retired employee who conducts the pooja is said to appropriate a portion of the liquor for himself and sell the remaining quantity for substantial sums. It is further alleged that Sri. Ramanan, also a retired employee, has engaged certain individuals as poojaris on a daily-wage basis and has been collecting large amounts by way of illegal gratification.

4. The matter was forwarded to the Ombudsman. The learned Ombudsman, after a careful consideration of the matter, submitted report No.90 of 2025 stating that since the Board has decided to appoint a person on temporary basis to the post of ‘Kazhakam cum Velichappadu’ from the Ooralan family of Kundankonthi, the grievance of the complainant has been redressed to some extent. The learned Ombudsman has also made a recommendation that the Board shall fill the vacancy of permanent person to avoid the allegations of corruption, in the future.

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

6. The learned Standing Counsel for the Travancore Devaswom Board would submit that the liquor brought for ‘Vellamkudi’ Vazhipadu to the Karimkuttiyan Moorthi is fully used for the Abhishekam. It is submitted that one Sri. K.K. Ramanan, son of Kunthan Konthi, who was a member of the Ooralan family, had worked as Kazhakam cum Velichappadu since 2022. He is no more. After his death, his son Sri. Devadathan was discharging the said duty on a temporary basis. Since there are several complaints against Sri. Devadathan was removed and one Aswin Raj, who is the nephew of Ramanan, was appointed on a temporary basis.

7. It is submitted that the appointment of the ‘Kazhakam cum Velichappadu’ is a Karaima right and therefore, recruitment through Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board (KDRB) is not possible. Moreover, special experience and skills are required for the post of Velichappadu.

8. Having considered the submissions advanced and on perusal of the records, we are of the view that intervention is not required in this matter.

Accordingly, this DBP is closed.

Sd/-