P.V.MURALEEDHARAN Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners claim to be the persons selected by the Malabar Devaswom Board [hereinafter referred to as 'Devaswom Board'], in their 13th meeting dated 25.07.2016, as Non-Hereditary Trustees for the management of the Sree Thirupuraikkal Bhagavathi temple, Vadakkanthara, Palakkad. According to them, they were selected through a valid process, as is mandated in law and they assert that pursuant to such selection they ought to have been appointed as Trustees, there being no other legal impediment.

(2.) The petitioners allege that even though a firm decision was taken by the Board to appoint them, and Ext. P1 copy of the minutes of such decision having been placed by them on record in evidence of the same, nothing was done by the Devaswom Board to effectuate the appointment of the hereditary trustees.

(3.) It appears that, while so the 6th respondent herein filed W.P. (C) No. 32163 of 2016, making certain allegations against the petitioners, which culminated in Ext. P2 judgment of this Court, whereby the Government was directed to consider such complaint and to take a decision thereon. After the said judgment was delivered, it transpires that the petitioners approached this Court, by filing W.P.(C) No. 5987 of 2017 and as per the judgment dated 16.03.2017, a copy of which has been appended to this writ petition as Ext. P3, a direction was given to the Devaswom Commissioner, who is the competent Authority under the relevant provisions of the Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Act 1951, to finalize the appointment of the new Non-Hereditary Trustees as per law within a time frame.