No permission for Iftaar feast in temple auditorium: Sree Mrudanga Saileswari Temple to Kerala High Court

The Executive Officer of the Sree Mrudanga Saileswari Temple recently informed the Kerala High Court that no permission has been granted to the Kalasa Committee of the temple to conduct 'Samooha Nombuthura’ and ‘Sneha Sangamam’ as part of iftaar feast at the temple auditorium. [Sreekumar Mankuzhy & Anr v. State of Kerala & Ors].A Division Bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and Muralee Krishna S was also told by the Malabar Devaswom Board, under whose control the temple falls, that as per relevant circulars and previous court orders, the activities of committees under the Board are for specified purposes.In this case, the Kalasa Committee was constituted to deal with work related to the installation of a golden flag mast and the renovation of the sreekovil of the temple.Recording these submissions, the Court disposed of a petition that sought to cancel the Iftar event. "This writ petition is disposed of recording the aforesaid stand taken by the Executive Officer. It is for the Malabar Devaswom Board and the Executive Officer to take necessary steps to ensure that the activities of the Kalasa Committee are confined to the installation of golden flag mast and renovation of Sreekovil of Porkkali Bhagavathi, in view of the provisions contained in Circular No.HRH5/8246/2006 dated 15.06.2007," the Court said. .The petitioners in this case also sought orders to the State government, the Board, and the temple's Executive Officer to restrain the entry of non-Hindus into the Mrudanga Saileswari Temple.In this regard, they cited the provisions of the Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Act, 1965. .However, the Court decided not to consider arguments on this aspect as the main grievance of the petitioners was addressed by the submission of the Executive Officer."We do not propose to consider the rival contentions on the above aspect in this proceedings, since the grievance of the petitioners regarding the conduct of ‘Samooha Nombuthura’ and ‘Sneha Sangamam’ in the auditorium of Mrudanga Saileswari Temple on 26.03.2025, stands redressed based on the stand taken by the Executive Officer that the said respondent has not granted permission to anyone to conduct ‘Samooha Nombuthura’ and Sneha Sangamam’ on in the auditorium of Mrudanga Saileswari Temple", the Court said..The petitioners were represented by advocates R Krishna Raj, R Pratheesh Aranmula, ES Soni, Sreeraja V and Laxmi Priyaa NP..[Read Judgment]