THIRU MOOZHIKKULAM SREELAKSHMANA Vs. ASSISTANT DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, namely, the Temple Advisory Committee of Thirumoozhikkulam Sree Lakshmana Perumal Temple, which is a temple under the management of the 7th respondent Travancore Devaswom Board, has filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of certiorari to quash Ext.P8 communication dtd. 1/4/2025 issued by the 1st respondent Assistant Devaswom Commissioner, North Paravur to the 3rd respondent Sub Group Officer, Thirumoozhikkulam Group; and a writ of mandamus commanding respondents 1 to 3 not to interdict the petitioner from parading seven elephants on the 9th day Valiyavilakku Festival of Thirumoozhikkulam Sree Lakshmana Perumal Temple, in view of Exts.P4 to P7. The document marked as Ext.P1 is a copy of the notice published in connection with the annual festival of Thirumoozhikkulam Sree Lakshmana Perumal Temple for the year 1200ME (2025), which is scheduled to be held from 13/4/2025 to 22/4/2025. The Valiyavilakku Festival on the 9th day is scheduled to be held on 21/4/2025.

(2.) According to the petitioner, from time immemorial, elephants ranging from five to nine in number are paraded on the 9th day as part of the cultural tradition during the festival in Thirumoozhikkulam Sree Lakshmana Perumal Temple. For the last several years, the Travancore Devaswom Board provided one elephant for parading in connection with the festival up to the 7th day and three elephants on 8th, 9th and 10th days. Subsequently, instead of providing elephants, the Board used to allot Rs.10,000.00 per day for parading elephants during the festival and the elephants are being arranged by the Temple Advisory Committee. Now, the allocation of funds by the Board for parading elephants is increased to Rs.1,15,000.00.

(3.) Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Standing Counsel for Travancore Devaswom Board for respondents 1 to 3 and 7 and also the learned Special Government Pleader for respondents 4 and 5.