Acting suo motu on a petition emanating from a complaint by the Sree Kurumbamma Bhakthajana Samithi, the Kerala High Court has directed the Cochin Devaswom Board to formulate a scheme to ensure basic amenities and facilities for devotees in each of the 409 temples under the Board’s control and superintendence.

The High Court was considering a Devaswom Board Petition registered based on a complaint submitted by the Convenor, Sree Kurumbamma Bhakthajana Samithi, Kodungallur, on November 3, 2025.

The Single Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K. V. Jayakumar held, “Therefore, we deem it appropriate to direct the Cochin Devaswom Board to formulate a scheme to ensure basic amenities and facilities for devotees in each of the temples under its control and superintendence. It has been brought to the notice of this Court that there are 409 temples under the management of the Cochin Devaswom Board. Kodungalloor Bhagavathy Temple is one of the major temples of the Cochin Devaswom Board.”

Senior Govt. Pleader Rashmi K M represented the Respondent.

Factual Background

The Samithi had raised certain issues regarding the administration of the Kodungallur Sree Kurumba Bhagavathi temple, specifically with respect to the inadequacy of amenities and facilities for the devotees or the pilgrims. One of them was the lack of proper toilet facilities for the devotees. It was claimed that, although Rs 5 is collected from the devotees, the toilets remained unclean and unhygienic. It was further alleged in the complaint that there is corruption in the ‘Prasada Oottu’ of the said temple, as it is limited to a certain number of devotees, even though large amounts are collected from them.

As per the complaint, the devotees are denied satisfactory darshan by the temple employees. Another issue highlighted in the complaint was the insufficient provision of drinking water in the Sree Kurumba Temple due to the non-maintenance of water coolers.

Reasoning

The Bench was of the view that the Board is duty-bound to ensure basic facilities, such as a sufficient number of toilets, access to pure drinking water, proper parking facilities for the vehicles of devotees, and a clean and hygienic environment in and around the temples. “In spite of repeated directions from this Court, it appears that the Board is giving the least priority to the primary and basic needs of pilgrims. We strongly deprecate such an attitude on the part of the Board”, it added.

Directions

The Bench thus passed the following directions:

  • The Board should conduct a detailed assessment with regard to the basic facilities, such as sufficiency of toilets, health, sanitation, and cleanliness in each and every temple under its control.
  • After completing the self-assessment, the Commissioner, in consultation with the President and members of the Board, should formulate a detailed scheme for the construction of toilet complexes for staff and the devotees. Provision should be made for separate toilets for gents, ladies, transgenders and differently abled persons.
  • The Board should come forward with an appropriate scheme to serve the devotees during festive seasons, when lakhs of pilgrims assemble in and around the temple within a short span of time. The Board should ensure the provision of sufficient bio-toilets during the annual festival.
  • Board and Devaswom Commissioner must ensure that all the temples under their control are kept clean and tidy in all respects, and the green protocols issued by the Government from time to time are scrupulously followed.
  • The Board and the Commissioner are to ensure a thorough cleaning of the temples and their premises at least once a month.
  • The Devaswom Commissioner should file an affidavit detailing the facilities available in each temple, as well as the number of devotees visiting the temple during normal periods and festival seasons, within three months.
  • The Board should formulate and submit a detailed scheme for the construction of toilet complexes and restrooms within three months without fail.

Cause Title: Suo Motu v. State of Kerala (Neutral Citation: 2026:KER:32087)

Appearance

Respondent: Senior Govt. Pleader Rashmi K M, Advocate K P Sudheer

Click here to read/download Order


Kerala High CourtJustice Raja Vijayraghavan VJustice K.V. Jayakumar

Tulip Kanth

Assistant Editor

Tulip Kanth is an Assistant Editor at Verdictum having over 5 years of experience in the field of legal journalism and editing. She extensively covers judgments of the Supreme Court, High Courts as well as Tribunals. She has previously worked with a legal publishing website where she oversaw the work of other editors and has also created updates on notifications of different Government Ministries. She holds an English Honours Degree from SGTB Khalsa College, Delhi University and has completed her LLB course with specialisation in Corporate Law from Amity University.