The court affirmed the permissibility of auctioning 'Kuthaka rights' for specific pooja items on a yearly basis and mandated the strict maintenance of the Bharanipatram Register and issuance of official receipts for all valuables received by the Devaswom.

DBP NO. 62 OF 2026

IN THE MATTER OF TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD-REPORT NO. 17/2026 IN COMPLAINT NOS. 196/2023 & 237/2023-COMPLAINTS ALLEGING IRREGULARITIES COMMITTED BY THE THEN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN THE CONDUCT OF POOJA STALLS IN VALLIYANKAVU DEVI TEMPLE-SUO MOTU PROCEEDINGS INITIATED-REG:

THIS DEVASWOM BOARD PETITION HAVING COME UP FOR FINAL HEARING ON 18.09.2026, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

O R D E R

Raja Vijayaraghavan V, J.

1. This Devaswom Board Petition has been registered based on Report No.17/2026 of the learned Ombudsman. The said report is based on complaints alleging irregularities committed by the then Administrative Officer in the conduct of PoojaStalls in Valliyamkavu Devi Temple.

2. Insofar as item No. 4 is concerned, which relates to Agarbathi, camphor,turmeric powder, oil and pattu, this Court had directed the learned Standing Counsel to obtain instructions from the Board as to whether the auctioning of the 'Kuthaka right' for taking these items on a yearly basis, as in the case of 'Udavu Nalikeram & Kozhi Nadakku Veyppu', could be resorted to. The learned Standing Counsel, on instructions submitted that the Board is of the view that such a course can be followed insofar as Agarbathi, camphor, turmeric powder, oil and pattu areconcerned. We record the said submission.

3. We had also directed the learned Standing Counsel to ascertain whethervaluables such as gold, silver, brass, etc., received in the Devaswom are being acknowledged with DFF No. 3A receipts and whether the valuable items other than gold and silver are being accounted for in the DFF No. 4B register (BharanipatramRegister).

4. The Administrative Officer, in his report dated 16.09.2026, has stated thatall measures are being taken to update the Bharanipatram Register and that, henceforth, DFF No. 3A receipts would be promptly issued as and when valuable items such as gold, silver, brass, etc., are received. We record the submission and direct the Administrative Officer to ensure that such a course is followed without failand all records are updated and properly maintained.

With these observations and directions, this DBP is closed.