2026 Supreme(Online)(Ker) 30071

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
Raja Vijayaraghavan V, K. V. Jayakumar, JJ
SUO MOTU – Appellant
Versus
THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD – Respondent
DBP NO. 60 OF 2026

The court exercises supervisory jurisdiction over the financial administration and expenditures of Devaswom Boards through the formal ratification of periodical reports submitted by the Ombudsman.

Headnote:The proceedings initiated suo motu pertain to the consideration of Periodical Report No. 72 filed by the Ombudsman for the Travancore and Cochin Devaswom Boards. The court examined the expenditures detailed in the report, particularly in the segment related to finance, to ensure administrative and financial compliance. The court addressed the primary issue of whether the expenditure reflected in the periodic audit reports should be ratified. The ratio decidendi rests on the court's satisfaction and scrutiny of the Ombudsman's recommendations regarding the approved financial practices within the administration of the Devaswom Boards. The court approved the expenditure and ratified the report as per Annexure-01, resulting in the closure of the proceedings.