IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.BHAVADASAN WEDNESDAY, THE 22ND SEPTEMBER 2010 / 31ST BHADRA 1932 DBP.No. 57 of 2010() ------------------------------ (IN THE MATTER OF TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD - APPOINTMENT OF PART TIME SANTHI & RENOVATION OF TEMPLE TANK OF KEERAMKUZHI VISHNUMAHESWARA TEMPLE - TDB REPORT NO.133/2010 SUBMITTED BY THE OMBUDSMAN - SUO-MOTU PROCEEDINGS INITIATED REG.) ................ COMPLAINANT: -------------------------- THE TEMPLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, KEERAMKUZHI - VISHNUMAHESHWARA TEMPLE, PERINGALA P.O., ERNAKULAM - 683 565,REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY SRI. C.K. SUNI. RESPONDENT(S): -------------------------- 1. THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, NANTHANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, LOCAL FUND AUDIT, TDB AUDIT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. R1 BY ADV. SRI.K.N.VENUGOPALA PANICKER, SC,TDB R2 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI. R. LAKSHMI NARAYANAN SRI.KRISHNAKUMAR MANGOT(AMICUS CURIAE) FOR OMBUDSMAN THIS DEVASWOM BOARD PETITION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 22/09/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: Kss THOTTATHIL.B.RADHAKRISHNAN & P.BHAVADASAN, JJ. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DBP No.57 of 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dated 22nd September 2010 Order Thottathil.B.Radhakrishnan, J. The Temple Advisory Committee of Keeramkuzhi Vishnumaheswara Temple in Ernakulam District filed a complaint before the Ombudsman. The learned Ombudsman visited the temple and has filed a report, after considering different aspects. He has also taken into consideration, the statement of income and expenditure of the temple. The Temple Advisory Committee's request was forwarded to the Devaswom Commissioner by the learned Ombudsman on 12.08.2009. However, there was no response from the Devaswom Board or the Devaswom Commissioner. The learned Ombudsman, has therefore, considered the entire matter and has filed the report, suggesting that there would be a general progress and higher income, if one more part-time santhi is appointed in the temple and the temple tank is DBP 57/10 2 renovated with half walls on all sides. He has also stated that there is scope for expansion and the local devotees are also interested in the improvement of the temple. Taking into consideration the fact that the Devaswom Board or the Devaswom Commissioner has not taken any objection to the request of the Temple Advisory Committee before the learned Ombudsman, we are of the view that the suggestions of the learned Ombudsman are only to be accepted. In the result, accepting the report of the learned Ombudsman, we order that the Travancore Devaswom Board will create one more post of part-time santhi in the aforesaid temple and the maramath wing of the Travancore Devaswom Board shall ensure that the temple tank is renovated appropriately. It shall be ensured that the creation of and appointment to the additional post of part-time santhi, in terms of this order shall be made within a period of six months from DBP 57/10 3 now. The renovation of the temple tank shall be done without fail, within a period of one year from now. The DBP is ordered accordingly. THOTTATHIL.B.RADHAKRISHNAN, JUDGE P.BHAVADASAN, JUDGE sta DBP 57/10 4