'Officers Blaming Each Other For Chottanikkara Temple's Plight': Kerala High Court Warns Of Action If Hygiene Not Improved

The Kerala High Court on Monday (May 25) warned that it would take action against officers concerned if the unhygienic conditions at Chottanikkara Temple is not rectified.

The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar today interacted with the Nodal Officer, the Assistant Engineer, the Assistant Commissioner, and the Devaswom Manager of Chottanikkara. After doing so, the Bench remarked:

"In the interaction, we find that the officers are blaming each for the plight of the temple and the unclean nature of the premises. The Assistant Engineer would blame the Assistant Commissioner and the Devaswom Manager."

The Bench was considering a suo motu proceeding initiated over allegations of maladministration and corruption, absence of basic amenities, misconduct by temple staff, deterioration in quality of offerings to the deity, financial irregularities, etc. in the Chottanikkara Temple.

Subsequently, the Court had directed the Suchitwa Mission to conduct a cleanliness audit in the temple and to frame a sustainable sanitation plan with the coordinate of the Temple Advisory Committee.

In March, the Assistant Engineer of Chottanikkara Devaswom had submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) outlining a comprehensive solid waste management plan for the temple, and the Nodal Officer had also submitted a report with photographs demonstrating steps taken to maintain cleanliness in and around the temple premise. The Court had then expressed its satisfaction with the progress of the work.

However, during the last hearing (May 18), the counsel for the complainant had submitted that several parts of the temple continue to be in an unclean condition even though several directions were passed by the Court earlier ordering its upkeep and maintenance. It had also directed the counsel to produce materials to prove the same and accordingly, certain photographs were placed before the Court.

On perusing the same, the Court observed:

"From the photographs we find, the pachakappuram, the toilet in keezhkav, the temple pond, the places where neyypayasam is being packed, the main entrance of the temple, the places where food is prepared for annadhanam, the front area of the room of the melsanthi, a tank near to the drinking outlet of the keezhkav, and the presmises surrounding the temple are all filled with plastic wastes and is lying in a very unhygienic condition. Even the portion near to the septic tanks, and the premises are kept in a very unclean manner...The Asst Commissioner as well as the Devaswom Manager, though have stated before us that measures have been taken, when the photographs of the filth were shown to them, they have no response."

Considering the situation at hand, the Court felt it fit to issue directions to each of these officers to file separate affidavits detailing measures that can be taken to improve the situation. It also added that action would taken in case of failure:

"We would like to warn the officers concerned that if the situation is not remedied, this Court would be forced to initiate appropriate measures to ensure that competent officers are posted and appropriate action is taken against these officers by the Devaswom for failing to take appropriate action in terms of the directions issued by this court in the previous orders."

The case is now posted to Monday (June 1), granting time to the officers to file their respective affidavits.

Case Title: Suo Motu v. State of Kerala and Ors. and connected cases

Case No: DBP No. 52 of 2025 and connected cases

Counsel for the petitioner: Resmi A.

Counsel for the respondents: S. Rajmohan (Sr. GP), K.P. Sudheer (SC - CDB), T. Madhu, C.R. Saradamani, B.S. Suraj Krishna, Avanthika R., Karthik Krishna M., Arunima A.R., T.S. Davis, Vineeth Komalachandran, Nirmal S.

Click to Read/Download Interim Order dated 18.05.2026