IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.R.RAMAN & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.R.RAMACHANDRA MENON THURSDAY, THE 3RD DECEMBER 2009 / 12TH AGRAHAYANA 1931 WP(C).No. 8764 of 2009(M) ------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- P.SREENIVAS S/O. PARAMESWARAN NAIR, ANJANATHIL, KARAZHMA, MAVELIKKARA. BY ADV. SRI.S.SUBHASH CHAND RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, OFFICE OF THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, NANDHANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. 2. DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER, OFFICE OF THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, DEVASWOM BUILDING, NANDHANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. ASSISTANT DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER, OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, THIRUVALLA GROUP, THIRUVALLA. BY ADV. SRI.K.N.VENUGOPALA PANICKER, SC, TDB FOR R1 TO R3 BY ADV. SRI.KRISHNAKUMAR MANGOT,AMICUS CURIAE THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 03/12/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: P.R.RAMAN & P.R.RAMACHANDRA MENON ------------------------------- W.P.(C) No.8764 of 2009 ------------------------------- Dated this the 3rd December, 2009 J U D G M E N T Raman, J. The petitioner, a devotee, is interested in the affairs of the Ulachikkadu Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, Ulachikkadu, Malavikkara. He has approached this Court by filing this writ petition, inter alia, praying for a issuance of writ of mandamus to the respondent Board to appoint a permanent Santhi/Santhikaran, so as to dispense with the practice of Muttusanthies/substitute santhies performing daily poojas in the temple. There was a further prayer that whenever new Santhies are appointed, the Devaswom should ensure that the Moolamantra of the principal deity of the temple should be administered to him by the Tantri, in accordance with the religious and customary manner, and for other consequential reliefs. W.P.(C) No.8764 of 2009 2 2. We have referred the matter to Ombudsman, who after considering the grievance of the petitioner and after hearing the Travancore Devaswom Board, has filed his report, TDB-Report no.116 of 2009. He has suggested to issue appropriate directions to the Devaswom for temporary appointments of Santhis from out of the list already existing. It is also suggested that Travancore Devaswom Board may also be directed to see that Thantries of the temple shall administer Moolamanthram to the Melsanthi of temple, before he starts poojas in the temple. 3. As regards the first relief is concerned, we have already directed in W.P.(C) No.26181 of 2009, to make appointments from the existing list excluding certain persons. Therefore, all that is needed is to expedite the appointment of santhies in the temple, and the Board shall take expeditious steps in that regard. 4. As regards the administering of Moolamanthram of principal deity, it goes without saying that the W.P.(C) No.8764 of 2009 3 Melsanthi has to be administered with Moolamanthram of the principle deity by the Thantri, and the Board shall ensure administration of the same. P.R.RAMAN, JUDGE P.R.RAMACHANDRA MENON, JUDGE. nj.