The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the administrator of the Guruvayoor Devaswom Managing Committee to file an affidavit explaining the facts and circumstances in which the Nadappanthal in front of the Guruvayoor temple was decorated with huge cutouts and branches of trees as seen from photographs in media reports.
The Division Bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice K. Babu passed this order while hearing a suo motu cognizance of the matter upon coming across the said news for violating Covid-19 protocol in the state. The suo motu proceedings was registered after a news item appeared in an online media regarding certain activities undertaken in the Nadappanthal in front of Guruvayoor Temple, in connection with the wedding of the son of industrialist Ravi Pillai, which is scheduled to be held on September 9, 2021.
As per the photographs in that online report huge cutouts, branches of trees, etc., are used for decorating the Nadappanthal.
On September 6, 2021, the Standing Counsel for Guruvayoor Devaswom Board, on instructions, submitted that the cutouts, branches of trees, etc., used for decorating the Nadappanthal had already been removed. The Standing Counsel also made available for the perusal of the Court, two photographs of the Nadappanthal taken on September 6, 2021.
The Standing Counsel sought time to get instructions as to the permissions, if any, granted in connection with the marriage in question to decorate the Nadappanthal in front of Guruvayoor Temple.
The Standing Counsel, on instructions, submitted that, on February 12, 2021, the Managing Committee of Guruvayoor Devaswom has taken a resolution to permit ‘pushpalangaram’ in the Nadappanthal, in connection with the marriage in question. No permission has been granted for decorating the Nadappanthal with cutouts, branches of trees, etc.
The Standing Counsel further submitted that, as pointed out on September 06, 2021, every day about 110 marriages are being conducted in the Nadappanthal, in front of Guruvayoor Temple, in strict conformity with Covid-19 protocol. Each marriage party is permitted to have only 12 persons, excluding bride and bridegroom.
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“Having considered the materials on record and also the submissions made by the Standing Counsel for Guruvayoor Devaswom Board, we deem it appropriate to direct the Administrator of Guruvayoor Devaswom Managing Committee to file an affidavit explaining the facts and circumstances in which the Nadappanthal in front of Guruvayoor Temple was decorated with huge cutouts, branches of trees, etc., as seen from the photographs in the online media report,” the Court observed.
The affidavit shall be placed on record by September 13. The Administrator shall take necessary steps to ensure that there is no violation of Covid-19 protocol in the conduct of marriages in the Nadappanthal in front of Guruvayoor Temple, the Court said.
The Court has fixed the next date of hearing on September 14.