JAYAKUMAR Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) A batch of cases had come up for hearing before us, and as agreed to by the parties, they were heard together and are being disposed of by a common judgment. Taking notice of the facts involved, we are of the view that only minimum intervention might be prudent, although there was reference to larger issues in the matter of religious rites, rituals, beliefs and as well the role of the Court in adjudicating on the areas covered by the pleadings.

(2.) Apart from the petitioners there were intervenors and the tenor of the submissions indicate that the matter is keenly followed by a sizable number of devotees of Lord Ayyappa. Anything concerning the Sabarimala Temple, where lakhs of devotees throng during the festival season, instantly comes to the attention of general public. On four days during June 2006, a Devaprasnam had been held at the temple, and leading Astrologers had been required to go into innumerous questions generally concerning the temple, administration etc. Controversies arose in respect of the opinions, findings, answers, comments and also about remedial measures suggested. Essentially, these have found expressions in the petitions that have come up before us.

(3.) The first case, that was filed, is D. B. A. No. 50 of 2006 and it had come up for admission on 04/07/2006. An Astrologer and a devotee respectively are the petitioners therein. It had been urged that the arrangements from the inception for carrying out this solemn ceremony had been irregular and the consequential findings therefore were thoroughly unacceptable, and this court, in exercise of its extra ordinary jurisdiction, was to issue appropriate directions to the second respondent -- Travancore Devaswom Board to arrange for a fresh Devaprasnam, at the behest of a new Astrologer. Also an enquiry is to be arranged to the allegations about the defaming of the deity, alleged to have been committed, as recorded by the Astrologer in the Devaprasnam.