Petitioners employed in an Ambattukavu temple sought enhanced salary parity with Travancore Devaswom Board employees after the Board took over temple administration. The court held the claim unsustainable.
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUNIL THOMAS
TUESDAY, THE 23RD DAY OF NOVEMBER 2021 / 2ND AGRAHAYANA, 1943
WP(C) NO. 12074 OF 2019
PETITIONER/S:
BY ADVS.
K.S.MADHUSOODANAN SRI.M.M.VINOD KUMAR SRI.P.K.RAKESH KUMAR SRI.K.S.MIZVER SMT.S.JESSIN SMT.C.C.BINDHYA
RESPONDENT/S:
WP(C) NO. 12074 OF 2019 2
3 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, AMBATTUKAVU DEVASWOM, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, ALUVA,
BY ADV SHRI.G.BIJU,SC,TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 23.11.2021, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
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WP(C) NO. 12074 OF 2019
JUDGMENT
The petitioners are employed as Kazhakam, sweeper, accountant and counter employee in the Ambattukavu Bhagavathy temple. Petitioners joined service around the year 2007. Originally, the temple was being administered by a public trust Ambattukavu Kshetra Samithi. The grievance of the petitioners is that now the Travancore Devaswom Board, which is the first respondent is administering the temple. Petitioners are claiming enhanced salary a par with the salary paid to the Devaswom Board employees, as revised from time to time.
WP(C) NO. 12074 OF 2019 4
were disputes between groups of devotees which ultimately led to the filing of OS.No.26/2010, by the Bhagavathy Kshetra Samithi. The matter came up to the High Court. Thereafter, the petitioners filed Ext.P3 representation to the Board, seeking enhancement of their wages. The specific contention of the Board is salary was being paid prior to taking over the administration and even thereafter from the funds generated by the temple itself. The funds of the temple are not taken by the Board also.
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WP(C) NO. 12074 OF 2019
Sd/-
SUNIL THOMAS, JUDGE
R.AV
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WP(C) NO. 12074 OF 2019
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 12074/2019
PETITIONER EXHIBITS
| EXHIBIT P1 | PHOTOCOPY OF THE CHART SHOWING SERVICE DETAILS WITH SALARIES OF PETITIONERS |
|---|---|
| EXHIBIT P2 | PHOTOCOPY OF THE NOTIFICATION PUBLISHED IN KERALA GAZETTE DATED 17.11.2009 |
| EXHIBIT P3 | PHOTOCOPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED 15.6.15 TO THE 3RD RESPONDENT BY THE PETITIONERS |
| EXHIBIT P4 | PHOTOCOPY OF THE REPORT OF 3RD RESPONDENT DATED 8.12.17 |
| EXHIBIT P5 | PHOTOCOPY OF THE REMINDER DATED 10.4.18 TO THE 3RD RESPONDENT BY THE PETITIONERS |
| EXHIBIT P6 | PHOTOCOPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED 3.4.19 TO THE 1ST RESPONDENT BY THE PETITIONERS WITH COPY TO RESPONDENTS 2 AND 3 |
| EXHIBIT P6(A) | PHOTOCOPY OF THE RECEIPT DATED 4.4.19 DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF APRIL 2019 |
| EXHIBIT P7 | PHOTOCOPY OF THE ORDER BEARING NO.ROC NO.4022/19/MISC.3 DATED 5.9.2019, ISSUED BY 1ST RESPONDENT. |
| EXHIBIT P8 | RELEVANT PAGES OF THE PAY REVISION OF TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARDE EMPLOYEES DATED 1.7.2016 BEARING NO.ROC NO.515/2016/EST. |
1 issue framed by the court
Whether temple employees claiming enhanced salary parity with Board employees can proceed against the Board at all.
Mahesh P.G.
Radha N.A
Viswanathan K.R
Thankappan Nair
Travancore Devaswom Board
Devaswom Commissioner
Sunil Thomas
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
