The High Court of Kerala dismissed a writ petition where the petitioner claimed monetary benefits for being denied the role of 'Santhiettavan' at the age limit. Relying on precedent, the court held the Thanthri"s opinion on age requirements is binding under the Guruvayoor Devaswom Act.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.VINOD CHANDRAN
FRIDAY, THE 18TH DAY OF MARCH 2016/28TH PHALGUNA, 1937
WP(C).No. 10413 of 2006 (M)
PETITIONER:
PADMANABHAN NAMBOODIRI, S/O. MELEDATH ILLATH KRISHNAN NAMBOODIR, GURUVAYOOR.
BY ADV. SRI.N.M.MADHU
RESPONDENTS:
1. GURUVAYOOR DEVASWOM ADMINISTRATOR, GURUVAYOOR, THRISSUR DISTRICT.
2. THE ADMINISTRATOR, GURUVAYOOR DEVASWOM, GURUVAYOOR, THRISSUR.
3. KRISHNAN NAMBOODIRI, MELEDATH ILLOM, MALLISSERY PARAMBU, P.O.GURUVAYOOR WEST NADA THRISSUR DISTRICT, PIN-680 101. (CORRECTED)
*R3 SRI.M. SANKARAN NAMBOODIRI, S/O. MELEDATH SANKARAN NAMBOODIRI, MELEDATH ILLAM, MANCHARA ROAD, NORTH NADA, GURUVAYOOR, THRISSUR DISTRICT, 680101.
NAME AND ADDRESS OF R3 CORRECTED AS PER THE ORDER IN I.A. NO.6257/2006
ADDLR4 IMPLEADED R4 SRI. P.C. RAMAN NAMBOODIRIPAD, (DIED) PUZHANGRA CHENAS MANA, GURUVAYOOR TEMPLE THANTHRI, VENKITANGU P.O., THRISSUR DISTRICT
ADDL.R4 IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER DATED 22.12.2015 IN I.A. NO. 10221/2008
...2
WP(C).No. 10413 of 2006 (M)
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ADDL R5 IMPLEADED R5 BRAHMASREE P.C. VASUDEVAN NAMBOODIRI, S/O. VASUDEVAN NAMBOODIRI, THANTHRIMADOM, GURUVAYOOR, CHAVAKKAD TALUK, THRISSUR DISTRICT ADDL.R5 IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER DATED 22.12.2015 IN I.A. O.10727/2009 ADDL.R6 IMPLEADED R6 SRI. P.C. NARAYANAN NAMBOOTHIRIPAD, S/O. PARAMESWARAN NAMBOOTHIRIPAD, THANTHRIMADAM, GURUVAYOOR 680101 ADDL.R6 IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER DATED 22.12.2015 IN I.A. NO.17282/2015 R1&2 BY ADV. SRI. P.GOPAL, SC, GDB R1,2 BY ADV. SRI.U.K.RAMAKRISHNAN (SR.) R1,2 BY ADV. SRI.V.KRISHNA MENON R3 BY ADV. SRI.G.UNNIKRISHNON R3 BY ADV. SRI.K.SANEESH KUMAR ADDL.R5. BY ADV. SRI.K.RAMACHANDRAN ADDL.R5. BY ADV. SRI.S.SREEDEV BY SRI.M.RAMESH CHANDER, SC, GDB
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 18-03-2016, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C).No. 10413 of 2006 (M)
APPENDIX
PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS
RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS
NIL
//TRUE COPY//
P.A. TO JUDGE
JJJ
K. VINOD CHANDRAN, J.
W.P.(C) No. 10413 of 2006 (M)
Dated this the 18th day of March, 2016
The petitioner is aggrieved with the fact that the petitioner was not permitted to discharge the duties of 'Santhiettavan' in the respondent temple. The decision not to entrust the said duties to the petitioner, despite the fact that he belonged to the family which had the hereditary right, was because he was less than 30 years of age at that point of time. The said specification was made at the advice of the Thanthri, going by the regulations.
W.P.(C) No. 10413/2006
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was also specifically noticed that the Devaswom has to go by the provisions of Section 35 of the Guruvayoor Devaswom Act in religious and spiritual matters, including appointment of persons for 'Santhiellkal'. This is confirmed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in S.L.P. (Civil) No. 4728/1998 by order dated 20.03.1998. In such circumstance, the Thanthri's advice, in accordance with the regulations, is perfectly in order.
W.P.(C) No. 10413/2006
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the Division Bench, as upheld by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, the petitioner would not be entitled to such
monetary benefits.
The writ petition is dismissed. No Costs.
Sd/K.VINOD CHANDRAN, JUDGE
jjj 19/3/16
PADMANABHAN NAMBOODIRI
GURUVAYOOR DEVASWOM ADMINISTRATOR
KRISHNAN NAMBOODIRI
M. SANKARAN NAMBOODIRI
SRI. P.C. RAMAN NAMBOODIRIPAD
BRAHMASREE P.C. VASUDEVAN NAMBOODIRI
K. VINOD CHANDRAN
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
