Kerala High Court Issues Notice On Plea Against Appointment Of Muslims To Head Temple Festival Committee

The Kerala High Court has issued an urgent notice on a plea challenging the appointment of Muslims to head the 'Pooram Organizing Committee, 2023' of the Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagvathy Temple in Angadippuram of Malappuram District of Kerala, which is administered by the State government through the Malabar Devaswom Board.

The Division Bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice P.G. Ajithkumar today issued an urgent notice on admission to the Temple Manager and the Convenor of the Committee and directed that the matter be listed with the connected case on Monday. Advocate C. Rajendran represented the Petitioner.

The Petitioner PV Muraleedharan who is the Secretary of Hindu Aikya Vedi has contended that till last year, the Committee was formed from Hindu devotees. But this year, the important posts in the Committee, including that of the Chief Patron, Chairman etc. are manned by Muslims who are leaders of the Indian Union Muslim League.

The Petitioner has alleged that immediately after the Muslim members took charge, the temple was painted green. "Immediately after assuming the office by the said Muslims, they painted all the buildings except the sanctum sanctorum with the colour combination of the National Flag of Pakistan i.e. green and white colour", the Petitioner has contended.

The photo of the temple building which was painted green was circulated widely on social media and the building was repainted with a different colour after protests.

The Petitioner has alleged that the ruling Communist Party and the Muslim League are attempting to destroy the Temple and convert it into a Mosque. He has contended that the Temple Festival or Pooram is an ancient festival with its reference in palm leaf text from the 16th Century.

The Petitioner has also alleged that Muslims are against Idol Worship and that they declare five times a day that they believe in only God and that "no other God deserves to be worshipped". "So their continuance in the organizing committee would be detrimental to the conduct of the Pooram festival, way of worship and even the very existence of the temple", the Petition says.

The Petitioner has contended that since the Devaswom Board employees must only be Hindus and since the Presidents of the Devaswom Boards are elected by the Hindu MLAs of the State, the formation of the festival committee is in violation of the law. The Petitioner has prayed for the deletion of the names of the Muslim members of the Committee and the reconstitution of the Committee without members from the Muslim community.

The connected Writ Petition is filed by Hindu Seva Kendram through Advocate R. Krishna Raj.

Cause Title: P.V. Muraleedharan v. State of Kerala & Ors.