VIJAYAN T. Vs. TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, who is a devotee of Major Vellayani Devi Temple, which is a temple under the management of the 1st respondent Travancore Devaswom Board, has filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of mandamus commanding the 3rd respondent Assistant Devaswom Commissioner, Neyyatinkara Group and the 4th respondent Sub Group Officer of Vellayani Devaswom to give him an opportunity for making Pachappanthal and also allow him to do the traditional activities in which he was involved in the said temple, such as preparing and carrying 'Theevetti', etc. The petitioner has also sought for a writ of mandamus commanding the 3rd respondent Assistant Devaswom Commissioner, Neyyatinkara Group and the 4th respondent Sub Group Officer of Vellayani Devaswom to consider his representations, i.e., Exts.P2 and P3 dtd. 3/2/2025 and 17/3/2025, made before respondents 3 and 4 and grant permission for making Pachappanthal.

(2.) In the writ petition, it is stated that the petitioner submitted representation before the 4th respondent Sub Group Officer, Vellayani Devaswom for permitting him to make Pachappanthal for Aswathy Pongala Maholsavam of 1200ME (2025), from 26/3/2025 to 1/4/2025, based on Ext.P1 notice, since he is experienced in making Pachappanthal and Pattuvirikkal for the last more than 15 years, and his grandfather Govindan Asan also used to make Pachapanthal in the past. The 4th respondent Sub Group Officer verbally gave an assurance and believing the same, the petitioner brought thatched coconut leaves and other materials for making Pachapanthal. However, on 17/3/2025, the Sub Group Officer informed the petitioner that another person had been considered for making Pachappanthal.

(3.) On 27/3/2025, when this writ petition came up for admission, it was ordered to be listed today for consideration.