Kerala High Court has directed the Malabar Devaswom Board to return the administration of the Angadipuram Thirumandhamkunnu Temple to its traditional trustees, ruling that the Board had taken it over without justification. The temple had been under the control of the CPM-managed Malabar Devaswom Board for several years.
The Court found that the appointment of an Executive Officer by the Malabar Devaswom Board and the subsequent administrative actions were illegal. The Bench directed that a new hereditary trustee must be appointed within one month from the date of the verdict (May 26). Following this, the current Executive Officer must hand over the administration to the trustee.
The Court has granted a period of three months to form a new managing committee. The order was issued by a Division Bench comprising Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K.V. Jayakumar.
The Court has granted a period of three months to form a new managing committee. The order was issued by a Division Bench comprising Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K.V. Jayakumar.
The temple had previously been at the center of major controversies following the painting of its structures in a green shade, similar to that seen on mosques, the inclusion of Muslims in the Thirumandhamkunnu Pooram festival committee, and an incident where non-Hindus entered the sanctum sanctorum and carried out an attack.
The Court observed that the appointment of the Executive Officer bypassed the traditional rights of the Valluvanad Swaroopam, the hereditary trustees of the temple. The primary authority to appoint an Executive Officer rest with the trustee, and Devaswom authorities can step in only under extraordinary circumstances where the trustee fails in their duty.
The Court noted that allowing an Executive Officer, who was initially appointed in 2013 as a temporary arrangement, to continue for 13 years directly infringed upon the administrative rights of the hereditary trustee. The judgment also specified that the new managing committee must ensure the participation of key members from the traditional trustee families while safeguarding the interests of the deity and the devotees.
The Court observed that the appointment of the Executive Officer bypassed the traditional rights of the Valluvanad Swaroopam, the hereditary trustees of the temple. The primary authority to appoint an Executive Officer rest with the trustee, and Devaswom authorities can step in only under extraordinary circumstances where the trustee fails in their duty.
The Court noted that allowing an Executive Officer, who was initially appointed in 2013 as a temporary arrangement, to continue for 13 years directly infringed upon the administrative rights of the hereditary trustee. The judgment also specified that the new managing committee must ensure the participation of key members from the traditional trustee families while safeguarding the interests of the deity and the devotees.
Along with this case, the Court considered several other petitions concerning employee appointments, service regularizations, and terminations at the temple. The Court dismissed the petitions filed by 29 individuals, including those who were found to have been appointed unlawfully.
