Kerala High Court on Tuesday criticised the installation of a flex boards in temples that feature photographs of politicians and members of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). [PS Sreekumar v State of Kerala & ors].A Division Bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and Muralee Krishna S reportedly stated that devotees visit the temples to see God and not the faces of the Chief Minister, MLAs or board members.The Court emphasised that setting up such flex boards in temples cannot be permitted since pilgrims visit temples to focus on their faith and worship and not to encounter political images..The Court made these remarks while hearing a suo motu case initiated on the basis of a complaint by a devotee regarding a flex board placed at Thuravoor Mahakshetram, a prominent temple near Cherthala in Alappuzha district.The board had displayed images of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan, the TDB president, and a local MLA, congratulating the State government and the TDB for arranging 'annadanam' (free meals), during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season at Sabarimala.The Court took objection to the flex board and remarked that TDB should not consider itself as the owner of the temples, but should remember that they are just trustees who have been tasked to manage the temples.It added that the TDB is duty-bound to provide proper facilities for devotees and not misuse temple funds for unnecessary purposes like setting up flex boards The Court also clarified that temple advisory committees have no authority to engage in such activities and stressed that placing such flex boards violate the sanctity of sacred spaces besides proving misuse of funds donated by devotees..The Court sought a detailed response from the TDB regarding the flex board and whether similar displays are existing in other temples or pilgrimage halting points under its management.The Court also impleaded the Devaswom Commissioner as a respondent to the case. "The learned standing counsel for the Travancore Devaswom Board seeks time to get instructions from the 4th respondent administrative officer regarding the flex board erected in the temple premises of Thuravoor. The learned senior government pleader seeks time to get instructions from the secretary of the board as to whether similar flex boards are erected in any other temples under the management of the Travancore Devaswom Board. Issue Urgent notice to the Temple Advisory Committee, the fifth respondent and the Devaswom Commissioner is impleaded as the sixth respondent," the Court ordered..[Read Order]
Kerala High Court on Tuesday criticised the installation of a flex boards in temples that feature photographs of politicians and members of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). [PS Sreekumar v State of Kerala & ors].A Division Bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and Muralee Krishna S reportedly stated that devotees visit the temples to see God and not the faces of the Chief Minister, MLAs or board members.The Court emphasised that setting up such flex boards in temples cannot be permitted since pilgrims visit temples to focus on their faith and worship and not to encounter political images..The Court made these remarks while hearing a suo motu case initiated on the basis of a complaint by a devotee regarding a flex board placed at Thuravoor Mahakshetram, a prominent temple near Cherthala in Alappuzha district.The board had displayed images of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan, the TDB president, and a local MLA, congratulating the State government and the TDB for arranging 'annadanam' (free meals), during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season at Sabarimala.The Court took objection to the flex board and remarked that TDB should not consider itself as the owner of the temples, but should remember that they are just trustees who have been tasked to manage the temples.It added that the TDB is duty-bound to provide proper facilities for devotees and not misuse temple funds for unnecessary purposes like setting up flex boards The Court also clarified that temple advisory committees have no authority to engage in such activities and stressed that placing such flex boards violate the sanctity of sacred spaces besides proving misuse of funds donated by devotees..The Court sought a detailed response from the TDB regarding the flex board and whether similar displays are existing in other temples or pilgrimage halting points under its management.The Court also impleaded the Devaswom Commissioner as a respondent to the case. "The learned standing counsel for the Travancore Devaswom Board seeks time to get instructions from the 4th respondent administrative officer regarding the flex board erected in the temple premises of Thuravoor. The learned senior government pleader seeks time to get instructions from the secretary of the board as to whether similar flex boards are erected in any other temples under the management of the Travancore Devaswom Board. Issue Urgent notice to the Temple Advisory Committee, the fifth respondent and the Devaswom Commissioner is impleaded as the sixth respondent," the Court ordered..[Read Order]
