‘Devotees visit temples to see god, not faces of CM, MLAs’: Kerala HC raps Travancore Devaswom

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday criticised erecting flex boards praising the state government and Travancore Devaswom Board at temple premises and said devotees visit temples to see god and not to see the faces of the chief minister, legislators and TDB members. The Court restricted erecting such flex boards in temples.

Hearing a suo motu case, a bench comprising Justices Anil K. Narendran and Muralee Krishna S. expressed displeasure over installing such flex boards on temple premises. The High Court took up the case following a complaint over a flex board erected at Thuravoor temple near Cherthala in Alappuzha. Apparently, the flex board had images of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, state Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan, the TDB president and the MLA of the constituency, congratulating the LDF government in the state and TDB for permitting 'annadanam' at the temple for Sabarimala pilgrims during the ongoing pilgrimage season.

Expressing displeasure over the incident, the bench said, "These kinds of activities cannot be permitted. Do not be under the impression that you (TDB) are the owner of the temples. The Board is a trustee which manages the temples under it," PTI reported quoting the bench. “Devotees go to the temples to see God and not to see the faces of the CM, MLA or TDB members, the court added.

The bench observed that the Thuravoor temple was a halting point for Sabarimala pilgrims during the pilgrimage season and it was the duty of the TDB to provide facilities for devotees there.

The court observed it was not the “job of the temple advisory committee" to set up such flex boards and the money received from devotees should not be used for this purpose. The bench sought responses from the Board and other stakeholders on the issue. The bench also sought details whether similar banners have been put up at other temples and halting points for Sabarimala devotees under the Board.