IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE V.K.MOHANAN WEDNESDAY, THE 4TH JUNE 2008 / 14TH JYAISHTA 1930 OP.No. 4985 of 2003(R) ---------------------- PETITIONERS: ------------ 1. G.GOPALAKRISHNAN NAIR, KIZHAKKETH VEEDU, KANNAMANGALAM SOUTH, CHETTIKULANGARA P.O., MAVELIKKARA, WORKING AS KARANMA SUMBANDHI, KANNAMANGALAM DEVASWOM, MAVELIKKARA. 2. A.VENUGOPALA VARRIER, NATAYIL VADAKKE VARIYAM, PATHIYUR, KEERIKAD P.O., WORKING AS KAZHAKOM, KANNAMANGALAM DEVASWOM, MAVELIKKARA. 3. S.SIVANKUTTY NAIR, ARATTUKULANGARA, PATHIYUR, KEERIKAD P.O., WORKING AS POOJA PATT SINGER, BHAGAVATHY TEMPLE, PATHIYUR. 4. K.VISWANATHA VARRIER, NATAYIL VADAKKE VARIYAM, PATHIYUR, KEERIKAD P.O., WORKING AS KAZHAKOM, BHAGAVATHI TEMPLE, PATHIYUR. 5. K.V.RAJALEKSHMI, NATAYIL VADAKKE VARIYAM, PATHIYUR, KEERIKAD P.O., WORKING AS KAZHAKOM, BHAGAVATHI TEMPLE, PATHIYUR. 6. A.K.PARAMESWARAN NAIR, AYIRKUNNATH VEEDU, PATHIYUR, KEERIKAD P.O., WORKING AS SUMBANDHI, BHAGAVATHI TEMPLE, PATHIYUR. 7. KL.SANTHOSH KUMAR, PANAKKAL THEKKETHIL, KOIPOLLI KARANMA, OLAKETTI AMBALAM P.O., MAVELIKKARA, WORKING AS SUMBANDHI, KOIPALLI KARANMA DEVASWOM, MAVELIKKARA. 8. N.NARAYANAN NAMBOOTHIRI, ELAVUNKAL ILLOM, KANNAMANGALAM SOUTH, CHETTIKULANGARA P.O., PERFORMING SANTHI SERVICE, KANNAMANGALAM DEVASWOM, MAVELIKKARA. 9. A.T.SASIDHARA KURUP, SARITHA NIVAS, EEREZHA THEKKU,THETTIKULANGARA P.O. WORKING AS KAZHAKOM, CHETTIKULANGARA DEVASWOM, CHETTIKULANGARA P.O. 2 10. R.UNNIKRISHNA PILLAI, MANGATH KIZHAKKETHIL, CHETTIKULANGARA P.O., WORKING AS SAMBANDHI SERVICE, CHETTIKULANGARA DEVASWOM, CHETTIKULANGARA P.O. 11. JAYACHANDRAN, PLAVILA KIZHAKKETHIL, KANNAMANGALAM P.O., WORKING AS SUMBANDHI, MAHADEVA TEMPLE, KANDHIYUR, MAVELIKKARA. 12. MURALEEDHARAN NAIR, MANNATICAVIL PUTHEN VEEDU, MATTOM NORTH, THATTARAMBALAM P.O., WORKING AS SUMBANDHI, MAHADEVA TEMPLE, KANDIYUR, MAVELIKKARA. 13. G.NARAYANAN NAIR, KARANMA SUMBANDHI SERVICE, MAHADEVA TEMPLE, KANDIYUR, MAVELIKKARA. 14. J.VINOD, KARANMA SUMBANDHI SERVICE, MAHADEVA TEMPLE, KANDIYUR, MAVELIKKARA. 15. C.M.RADHAKRISHNA VARRIER, KARANMA KAZHAKOM SERVICE, MAHAVEVA TEMPLE, KANDIYUR, MAVELIKKARA. 16. K.CHELLAPPAN PILLAI, KANNAKKARA HOUSE, ELAVUMKAL, THIRUVELLA-2, RETIRED AS KARANMA ACCOUNTANT,SREE VALLABHA TEMPLE THIRUVELLA. 17. K.KRISHNA PISHARATY, KOCHUMADOM (KRIPA PISHARAM), KANDIYUR, THATTARAMBALAM P.O., RETIRED FROM KAZHAKOM SERVICE MAHADEVA TEMPLE, KANDIYUR, MAVELIKKARA. 18. S.SUDHAMONI, NARA SIMHAMANGALAM VARIYAM, MATTAM NORTH, THATTARAMBALAM P.O.,RETIRED FROM KAZHAKOM SERVICE, NARASIMHAPURAM TEMPLE, MATTAM NORTH, THATTARAMBALAM P.O., MAVELIKKARA. 19. ESWARAN NAMBOOTHIRI, CHERUKUDAL ILLOM, MATTOM NORTH,THATTARAMBALAM P.O. MAVELIKKARA, RETIRED AS CHUTTUKOVIL SANTHI SERVICE MAHADEVA TEMPLE, KANDIYUR, MAVELIKKARA. 20. N.VISHNU NAMBOOTHIRI, VARANASI MADOM, MAVELIKKARA, RETIRED FROM SANTHI SERVICE, PALLIARAKKAVU BHAGAVATHI TEMPLE, MAVELIKKARA. 21. JANARDHANA PANICKER, HARI SREE BHAVAN, EEREZHA THEKKU, CHETTIKULANGARA P.O., RETIRED FROM SUMBANDHI SERVICE, BHAGAVATHI TEMPLE, CHETTIKULANGARA P.O., MAVELIKKARA. 22. SREEMATHYKUTTY AMMA, SARASWATHI VILASOM, KANDIYUR, MAVELIKKARA, RETIRED FROM KARANMA SERVICE, MAHADEVA TEMPLE, KANDIYUR, MAVELIKKARA. 3 23. JANARDHANA KURUP, BUNGLAVIL, KARUVATTA SOUTH P.O., RETIRED AS KARANMA, NATAKAVAL SERVICE, SREE SUBRAMANIA SWAMY TEMPLE, HARIPAD P.O., MAVELIKKARA. 24. N.MADHAVAN NAMBOOTHIRI, THALIKKAL VELIMANA ILLOM, MUTTOM P.O., HARIPAD, RETIRED FROM SANTHI SERVICE, SREEKRISHNA SWAMY TEMPLE, MAVELIKKARA. BY ADV. SRI.K.N.RAMACHANDRA PANICKER RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. PRESIDENT, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, NANDANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. COMMISSIONER, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, NANDANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. SECRETARY, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, NANDANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY ADV. SRI.D.SREEKUMAR, SC, TDB THIS ORIGINAL PETITION HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 04/06/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: 4 APPENDIX PETITIONERS' EXHIBITS: EXT.P1 TRUE COPY OF THE PAGES 101,102 OF THE STATUTE BOOK DEVASWOM IN TRAVANCORE PUBLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF TRAVANCORE IN 1947. EXT.P2 TRUE COPY OF PAGENO.245 OF VOL.NO.6 CHAP.NO.XXXVI OF THE TRAVANCORE STATE MANUAL WRITTEN BY SRI. T.K. VELUPILLA IN THE YEAR 1940. EXT.P3 TRUE COPIES OF PAGES 262, 263, 264 OF THE STATUTE BOOK, DEVASWOM IN TRAVANCORE, SANAD ISSUED BY COL. MUNRO, THE DEWAN, RESIDENT OF TRAVANCORE ON 3RD KANNI 987 ME TO NINE MUKKATH SARVADHIKARIAKARS OF THE TRAVANCORE STATE. EXT.P4 TRUE COPY OF THE PROCLAMATION PROMULGATED BY THE MAHARAJA OF TRAVANCORE IN THE YEAR 1088 M.E. DATED 29TH EDAVAM 1088 EXT.P5 TRUE COPIES OF PAGES 247,248, 249 CHAPTER I OF SUB GROUP MANUAL PUBLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF TRAVANCORE IN THE YEAR 1920. EXT.P6 TRUE COPIES OF PAGES 1,3, 10 OF THE COVENANT OF 1947 EXECUTED BY THE MAHARAJAS OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN WITH THE UNION GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ON 1.7.47. EXT.P7 TRUE COPIES OF THE RELEVANT PORTION OF THE TRAVANCORE COCHIN RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION ACT 1950 PUBLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF KERALA. EXT.P8 TRUE COPY OF THE SPECIAL RULES IN KARANMA SERVICE FRAMED UNDER SECTION 28 OF THE TRAVANCORE -COCHIN RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS ACT, 1950. EXT.P9 TRUE COPY OF THE KERALA HINDU JOINT FAMILY SYSTEM (ABOLITION) ACT, 1975 EXT.P10 TRUE COPY OF AMENDMENT OFDER NO. ROC 2644/77/M9ISC. DATED 5.12.77 ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. EXT.P11 TRUE COPY OF THE KERALA SERVICE INAM LANDS (VESTING AND ENFRANCHISEMENT) ACT, 1981 EXT.P12 TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT IN WA. NO. 800 OF 1983 PRONOUNCED BY THE DIVISION BENCH OF THIS HON'BLE COURT ON 13.11.87 EXT.P13 TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT OF THE SUPREME COURT IN SLP 364 TO 67 PRONOUNCED ON 9.2.89 EXT.P14 TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE ISSUED BY THE DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER NO. ROC 1490/94/MISC. DATED 8.7.1998 TO ALL KARANMA HOLDERS. EXT.P15 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER IN TDB.1/2000, 17/2000 THE HON'BLE DIVISION BENCH OF THIS COURT DATED 8.8.2001 EXT.P16 TRUE COPY OF JUDGMENT IN OP 35631 OF 2001 OF THE DIVISION BENCH OF THIS HON'BLE COURT PRONOUNCED ON 14.3.2002 EXT.P17 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER OF THE SECRETARY, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD NO. ROC 2901/87/MISC. DATED 26.8.1987 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. EXT.P18 TRUE EXTRACT OF THE PAY REVISION ORDER NO. NIL DATED 18.7.79 VALID FOR THE PERIOD 1.7.78 TO 31.6.83 ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD. 5 EXT.P19 TRUE EXTRACT OF THE PAY REVISION ORDER NO. ROC 6997/85/EST. DATED 18.12.85 VALID FROM 1.7.83 TO 31.6.88 ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD. EXT.P20 TRUE COPY OF THE PAY REVISION ORDER NO. 2000/90/EST. DATED 15.3.90 VALID FROM 1.7.88 TO 30.6.1993 ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD. EXT.P21 TRUE COPY OF THE PAY REVISION ORDER NO. ROC.1000/94/EST-1 DATED 1.3.94 ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD VALID FROM 1.3.92 TO 28.2.97 EXT.P22 TRUE COPY OF THE PAY REVISION ORDER NO. ROC 1000/98/EST.-1 DATED 1.3.99 VALID FOR 1.3.97 TO 28.2.2002 ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD. RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS: NIL. TRUE COPY P.S. TO JUDGE. C .N. RAMACHANDRAN NAIR & V.K. MOHANAN, JJ. -------------------------------------------- O.P. No. 4985 OF 2003 -------------------------------------------- Dated this the 4th day of June, 2008 JUDGMENT Ramachandran Nair,J. This O.P. is filed for direction to the Devaswom Board to grant parity in pay to the Karanma employees of the temples at par with other Devaswom Board employees. Counsel appearing for the Devaswom Board Sri. D. Sreekumar opposed the plea on the ground that Karanma employees constitute a different category and are attached to the temples on regular basis, whereas the Devaswom Board employees are transferable from place to place. Besides this , Karanma employees are getting some benefits from the temple, such as possession and enjoyment of land, and their selection is made from the same family on succession basis, subject to minimum eligibility without any restriction of even age. We are of the view that Karanma employees cannot seek parity with other Devaswom Board employees. Counsel appearing for the Devaswom Board produced before us the revision of pay effected 2 to Karanma employees in the year 2006, whereas this O.P. is pending from 2003 onwards. On going through the revised scale of pay, we find that there is substantial increase in the scale of pay given to Karanma employees, though the same may not be at par with other Devaswom employees. In view of the foregoing we reject the claim for equal pay for Karanma employees with other Devaswom Board employees. O.P. is accordingly dismissed. (C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR) Judge. (V. K. MOHANAN) Judge. kk 3