Collection Of Money From Devotees By Kadakkal Devi Temple's 'Akosha Committee' Is A Criminal Offence: Kerala High Court Remarks

The Kerala High Court on Monday (June 2) orally questioned the authority of the 'Akosha Committee' (committee allegedly formed for conducting festivals) to collect money from devotees of Kadakkal Devi Temple, which is under the Travancore Devaswom Board. A division bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice P.V. Balakrishnan was hearing a writ petition filed by a devotee, a lawyer, who has claimed to be aggrieved by performance of revolutionary songs of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI)–youth wing of CPI (M), during the Temple festival at Kadakkal Devi Temple in Kollam district on March 10 this year. When the matter came up for hearing today, the Court noted that the singer was brought to the temple premises by the Committee and he was singing songs as requested by the public. The Court thereafter orally questioned who was the person responsible and whether any crime has been registered against the person.The counsel replied that it was the Akosha Committee who had done the same. Thereafter, the Court questioned about the status and the composition of the said Akosha Committee. It was stated that the Akosha Committee is responsible for conducting the festival and that the membership of the Committee includes persons other than the Advisory Committee.Upon hearing this, the Court orally observed: “So, this is a clear case of collecting money from the devotees by persons other than the temple advisory committee.” The Court further orally observed that persons in the temple advisory committee ought not do such actions just because there is political backing. With respect to the collection of monies by the Akosha Committee, the Court again orally questioned why such Committee are allowed to collect money. “What is your authorisation? It is a criminal offence.” On 22.05.2025, the Court had directed the Standing Counsel of the Travancore Devaswom Board to produce the original applications made by the additional 9th respondent and also the members of the Temple Advisory Committee of Kadakkal Devi Temple, for membership in the registered mandalam. After looking into the documents produced, the Court noted the applications produced were old ones, filed in the year 2012.Therefore, the Court directed the standing counsel of the Travancore Devaswom Board to produce the latest applications made by the Addl. 9th respondent in the period of 2 years. The matter is posted after 10 days for further consideration.The Court also orally noted that the Temple Advisory Committee still has not chosen to file an affidavit despite time being granted.BackgroundThe Kadakkal Devi Temple is a temple under the Travancore Devaswom Board. In the writ petition, it was alleged that a person called Aloshy performed political songs by displaying political party's flags in the background during the Temple festival which is hurtful to sentiments of devotees. It is also alleged that the Temple Advisory Committee organised the performance violating the sanctity of the Temple.The Court had earlier ordered the Travancore Devaswom Board to ensure that no activities are permitted in Temple premises which affects its sanctity during annual Temple festivals or other festivals.Case Title: Advocate Vishnu Sunil Panthalam @ Vishnu Sunil v. Kadakkal Temple Advisory CommitteeCase No: WPC No. 10893 of 2025

Collection Of Money From Devotees By Kadakkal Devi Temple's 'Akosha Committee' Is A Criminal Offence: Kerala High Court Remarks

K. Salma Jennath

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