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 DBAR.No. 4 of 2002() ------------------------------- IN THE MATTER OF COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD/ AUDIT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2001-2002. ........ PETTIIONER(S): -------------------- THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, LOCAL FUND AUDIT, COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD AUDIT, THRISSUR. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER MR.R.LAKSHMI NARAYAN RESPONDENT(S): -------------------------- THE SECRETARY, COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD, THRISSUR. BY ADV. MR.C.E.UNNIKRISHNAN,SC,COCHIN DEV.BOARD THIS DEVASWOM BOARD AUDIT REPORT HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 28/05/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: P.R.RAMAN & P.BHAVADASAN, JJ. -------------------------------------------------------- DBAR NO.4 OF 2002 -------------------------------------------------------- Dated 28th May 2009 Order RAMAN, J. In the final Report No.38 of 2009, this court considered the following suggestions made by the Ombudsman : “Paragraphs 39 and 63 relate to conduct of Vrichikolsavam in Poornmathrayesa Temple, Thripunithura in 1177 M.E. Several objections were raised in the audit and replies have been filed. The main objections raised are that the Committee which was formed to conduct Vrichikolsavam has spent amounts for the items which are not included in the estimate and the estimate was not got sanctioned by the Board, some of the items of expenditure were not necessary and that stickers and banners were made spending huge amounts. Stickers were not sold completely. It is also stated that the Committee had taken a decision to conduct Ulsava Sadya only if DBAR 4 OF 2002 2 financial position was stable. But the sadya was conducted even after finding that there was no sufficient money in hand. In the reply filed, it is stated that there is no way of getting any amount from the committee at this distance of time as the committee was a temporary arrangement for the conduct of ulsavam by including people of the locality and devotees of the temple. Internal audit was conducted and it was found that the committee actually incurred amounts from its own pocket as the amount of Rs.5,00,000/- given by the Devaswom Board as advance was not sufficient apart from the collections made from the public to meet the expenditure. Since the expenditure of the Committee was more than the income including the advance made by the Board, it will not be possible to realise any amount from the committee especially after 5 or 6 years, though it is pointed out by the audit that several items were not in the estimate. On going through the items, it is seen DBAR 4 OF 2002 3 that they were necessary to be expended for proper conduct of ulsavam. Similarly, with regard to feast in connection with Vrichikolsavam, it is informed at the time of hearing that more than 10000 persons have participated in the feast and the feast is an inevitable part of the festival and having conducted the feast, it may not be proper to say that the amount may not be treated as eligible expenditure. In view of the reply filed today, it is suggested that no useful purpose will be served by initiating steps against the then committee formed for conduct of Vrichikolsavam and necessary orders may be passed by the Hon'ble High Court in this respect.” The suggestions of the Ombudsman are accepted and the DBAR is closed. P.R.RAMAN, JUDGE P.BHAVADASAN, JUDGE DBAR 4 OF 2002 4 sta DBAR 4 OF 2002 5