HINDU SEVA KENDRAM Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The issue involved in these writ petitions relates to the conduct of the Pooram Festival of 2023 in Sree Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple, Angadippuram, which is a controlled institution under the Malabar Devaswom Board.

(2.) W.P.(C)No.10154 of 2023:- The petitioner, namely, Hindu Seva Kendram, has filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of certiorari to quash the decision taken by the 2nd respondent Malabar Devaswom Board constituting an organising committee consisting of non-Hindus, as seen in Ext.P1, for the conduct of Pooram Festival of 2023 in Sree Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple. The petitioner has also sought for a writ of mandamus commanding respondents 1 to 5 not to conduct a public meeting on 1/4/2023, with the participation of political personalities, as part of Pooram Festival of 2023 in Sree Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple; and a writ of mandamus commanding respondents 1 to 5 to strictly follow the provisions of the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Act, 1965 and the Rules made thereunder and restrain the entry of non-Hindus into Sree Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple, including the members of the organising committee. The 4th respondent is the Executive Officer of Sree Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Devaswom and the 5th respondent is the hereditary trustee of the said Devaswom.

(3.) W.P.(C)No.10406 of 2023:- The petitioner, who is a devotee of Sree Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy, has filed this writ petition, during the pendency of W.P.(C)No.10154 of 2023, seeking a writ of certiorari to quash the constitution of the committee, as evidenced by Ext.P1, for conducting Pooram Festival of 2023 in Sree Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple. The petitioner has also sought for a writ of mandamus commanding respondents 1 to 4 to delete members of Muslim community from the committee for conducting Pooram Festival of 2023 in Sree Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple; and a writ of mandamus commanding the respondents not to constitute any committee for conducting Poorams, festivals, etc., in Sree Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple, with the members of Muslim community.