IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.R.RAMAN & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE T.R.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR FRIDAY, THE 19TH DECEMBER 2008 / 28TH AGRAHAYANA 1930 WP(C).No. 35633 of 2008(P) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------------ V.SASIDHARAN NAIR, KAVILAMPALLY, PARADISE ROAD, VYTTILA, KOCHI-682 019. BY ADV. SRI.S.KRISHNAMOORTHY RESPONDENT: ------------------- 1. TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD REP.BY ITS SECRETARY, NANDANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, NANDANCODE,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SABARIMALA, SANNIDHANAM, SABARIMALA.P.O. BY STANDING COUNSEL SRI V.KRISHNA MENON THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 19/12/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: P.R.RAMAN & T.R.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, JJ. ------------------------------- W.P.(C)NO. 35633 OF 2008 ------------------------------- Dated this the 12th day of December, 2008 O R D E R Raman,J. Heard. Pending further consideration we direct the Commissioner to produce the materials in his possession including the letter of the Thanthri referred to in his report produced along with the memo by the Travancore Devaswom Board. Ombudsman appointed by this Court may, after enquiring into the matter, submit a report on the following aspects. i) Whether Ashtabhishekam is done by the Thanthri or by the Melsanthi. ii) Whether Ashtabhishekam is totally stopped for the festival season. iii) Whether Ashtabhishekam was being conducted for the past several years and if so, stoppage of the same altogether is proper. iv) Whether at least one Ashtabhishekam could be conducted by the Devaswom which we think will take only approximately fifteen minutes, so that this religious ceremony could be conducted in a limited way without the said item being included as a -2- WP(C).No.35633/2008 Vazhipadu by the general public during the festival season. v) In order to reduce the rush and avoidance of standing in the queue by the devotees whether a common container could be kept wherein the devotees could offer the ghee, so that the ghee received could be taken and after the Abhishekam whether the devotees could be given ghee in a sealed container or otherwise by way of prasadam. Whether arrangement can also be made for the broken coconuts to put in the Aazhi without any room for misuse. Copy of this writ petition and memo along with a copy of this order be forwarded to the learned Ombudsman. P.R.RAMAN, Judge. T.R.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, Judge. kcv.