SUO MOTU Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By the proceedings dtd. 17/2/2022, Registry was directed to register this DBP suo motu, based on a news item that appeared in Kerala Kaumudi daily dtd. 17/2/2022 that there were protests from priests in the auction of 'balitharas' at Aluva Shivratri Manappuram in connection with Mahashivratri Festival, 2022, and list the matter before the Devaswom Bench on 18/2/2022.

(2.) On 18/2/2022, when this DBP came up for consideration at 10.15 a.m., the learned Senior Government Pleader and also the learned Standing Counsel for Travancore Devaswom Board submitted that, on 15/2/2022 and thereafter on 16/2/2022, auction proceedings were obstructed at the leadership of Sri.Radhakrishna Wadhyar, who is the Aluva Mandalam Secretary of Archak Purohit Sabha. The learned Standing Counsel for Travancore Devaswom Board was directed to file a memo furnishing the address of Sri.Radhakrishna Wadhyar and the matter was ordered to be listed at 1.00 p.m. When the matter was taken up again at 1.00 p.m., the learned Standing Counsel furnished the address and mobile number of Sri.Radhakrishna Wadhyar, along with a memo.

(3.) By the order dtd. 18/2/2022, Sri.Radhakrishna Wadhyar was suo motu impleaded as the additional 8th respondent. The learned Senior Government Pleader took notice for respondents 1 and 5 to 7 and the learned Standing Counsel for Travancore Devaswom Board took notice for respondents 2 to 4. Urgent notice was ordered to the additional 8th respondent, through the 7th respondent Station House Officer, Aluva East Police Station. Registry was directed to e-mail a scanned copy of the DBP and the order dtd. 18/2/2022 to the e-mail ID of the 7th respondent and the said respondent was directed to ensure service of notice on the additional 8th respondent, on 18/2/2022 itself, along with a copy of the DBP and also the order dtd. 18/2/2022. The 6th respondent Superintendent of Police (Rural) and the 7th respondent Station House Officer were directed to take necessary steps, well in advance, to ensure that there is no obstruction whatsoever in the auction of balitharas scheduled to be held on 22/2/2022, and the DBP was ordered to be listed on 21/2/2022.