SUO MOTU Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This DBP is registered suo motu, vide proceedings dtd. 14/7/2023, based on a news report that appeared in Malayala Manorama daily dtd. 13/7/2023 in connection with 'Naalambala Darshanam' of the year 2023. In connection with 'Naalambala Darshanam' of the year 2022, this Court issued various directions in the judgment dtd. 1/11/2022 in W.P.(C) No.25929 of 2022. Paragraphs 18 and 19 of the said judgment read thus;

(2.) On 14/7/2023, when this DBP came up for consideration, the respective Standing Counsel for Travancore Devaswom Board, Cochin Devaswom Board and Koodalmanikyam Devaswom sought time to get instructions. The learned Senior Government Pleader was directed to get instructions from the District Administration and also the District Police on the arrangements already made in connection with 'Naalambala darshanam'. In the order dtd. 14/7/2023, this Court made it clear that, in terms of the statutory provisions referred to in the judgment dtd. 1/11/2022 in W.P.(C)No.25929 of 2022, it is for the Cochin Devaswom Board, Travancore Devaswom Board and Koodalmanikyam Devaswom to ensure that proper facilities are provided to all the devotees in the respective temples for 'Naalambala Darshanam'.

(3.) Heard the learned Senior Government Pleader for the 1st respondent State, the learned Standing Counsel for Travancore Devaswom Board for respondents 2 and 6, the learned Standing Counsel for Cochin Devaswom Board for respondents 3 and 4, the learned Senior Counsel for Koodalmanikyam Devaswom for the 5th respondent and also the learned counsel for the 7th respondent Executive Officer of Sree Shathrughna Temple, Payammal.