IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.R.RAMAN & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.BHAVADASAN THURSDAY, THE 28TH MAY 2009 / 7TH JYAISHTA 1931 DBP.No. 17 of 2009() -------------------------------- (IN THE MATTER OF TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD - ADORNING THE DEITY WITH GOLDEN JEWELLERY IN KODUMAN SREE VAIKANTAPURAM TEMPLE – REPORT NO.28/2009 BY OMBUDSMAN RECEIVED – SUO – MOTU PROCEEDINGS INITIATED) COMPLAINANT:: -------------------------- SRI. SHAJI, B., POLACHIRAKKAL, KODUMAN. ADV. MR.KRISHNAKUMAR MANGOT,(AMICUS CURIAE FOR OMBUDSMAN) RESPONDENT(S): -------------------------- THE SECRETARY, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY ADV. MR.V.KRISHNA MENON,SC FOR TDB. THIS DEVASWOM BOARD PETITION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 28/05/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: Kss P.R.RAMAN & P.BHAVADASAN, JJ. -------------------------------------------------------- DBP NO.17 OF 2009 -------------------------------------------------------- Dated 28th May 2009 Order RAMAN, J. A devotee by name B.Shaji filed a complaint before the Ombudsman alleging that he had donated a golden necklace, weighing 24 grams to the Sree Vaikuntapuram temple as it was found that it is necessary to adorn the Deity with gold jewellery. Though the necklace was being used daily in the temple, subsequently it was removed to a strong room at Punalur for safety reasons. As a result, the necklace is not adorned on the Deity every day. 2. After hearing the parties, the Ombudsman has reported that if the devotees who donate the jewellery insist that the jewellery should be used in the temple every day, as at present, in the absence of better arrangements for the safe custody of the gold ornaments, they are liable to meet the insurance expenditure as the same are bound to be insured as otherwise, the jewellery could be used only on festive occasions. There is DBP 17/09 2 also a suggestion to instal electronic alarm machines in places where valuable items are stored. 3. After hearing the parties, we direct that intimation be given to the Devaswom Board to take an appropriate policy decision that wherever strong rooms are not available in the temple premises, in case the jewellery offered has to be stored outside the temple premises in the strong rooms belonging to the Devaswom Board, use of such jewellery in the temple every day can be done only if the devotees who desire adornment of such jewellery daily, also pay the premium required to insure the jewellery. A notice to this effect shall be affixed on the notice board of the temples for the information of the public so as to avoid any dispute regarding the manner of use of the jewellery so offered. The Devaswom Board may also consider installation of safety alarm wherever such valuables are stored in strong rooms. The DBP is disposed of as above. P.R.RAMAN, JUDGE P.BHAVADASAN, JUDGE DBP 17/09 3 sta DBP 17/09 4