The Kerala High Court has issued detailed directions aimed at strengthening the mechanism for reporting and addressing malpractices, misconduct, and administrative lapses in temples and other religious institutions under the control of the Travancore Devaswom Board. The Division Bench, presiding over a suo motu matter that stemmed from reports by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner concerning how periodic status reports were being submitted, expressed concern over the absence of an effective system to promptly bring such issues to the notice of authorities empowered to act and ensure transparency in temple administration. The court noted that earlier orders had instructed the Chief Vigilance Officer of the Board to submit periodic reports but acknowledged that subsequent modifications in timelines and procedures had left gaps in how such information was circulated, potentially preventing the Special Commissioner and the Board from timely scrutiny of discrepancies and misconduct. The High Court observed that without a structured and clear reporting mechanism, discipline and accountability within the temples could be undermined, leading to mismanagement or even corruption in their functioning. It therefore deemed it necessary to lay down comprehensive guidelines to streamline how vigilance reports are prepared, submitted, reviewed and acted upon.
Under the new directions, the court mandated that whenever any malpractice, misconduct or administrative lapse comes to the notice of the vigilance wing of the Travancore Devaswom Board, there must be an established mechanism to promptly report such matters to the Board itself. This is intended to ensure that the Board can take effective remedial measures in accordance with law without undue delays. The court specified that separate reporting procedures should be maintained for the Sabarimala temple and other temples under the Board’s control, recognizing the unique scale, importance and operational considerations associated with the Sabarimala shrine. Rather than half-yearly submissions, the periodical status reports from the vigilance wing are now to be prepared on a quarterly basis covering defined periods throughout the year, and these reports are to be submitted to the Board and the Special Commissioner within specified deadlines. Following the receipt of quarterly vigilance reports, the Board is required to consider them within one month and, if necessary, initiate corrective or disciplinary action. An action-taken report must then be forwarded without delay to the Special Commissioner, who in turn is to submit it, along with his own report, expeditiously to the High Court.
The court made clear that these directives will apply to all temples under the Board, not just Sabarimala, though it is important that Sabarimala receives special focus due to its significant public profile and the concentrated period of activity during peak seasons such as the Mandalam-Makaravilakku period. The bench further clarified that the reporting schedule should not be interpreted as limiting the authority of the Special Commissioner, who retains the jurisdiction to raise matters outside the periodic schedule whenever irregularities come to his attention. Recognizing the need for vigilance efforts to be more intensive during times when temples are most active, the court directed that the vigilance wing focus especially on the Sabarimala temple during its principal seasons and focus on other temples at other times, thereby ensuring comprehensive oversight across the Board’s jurisdiction.
By issuing these guidelines, the Kerala High Court sought to “nip in the bud” any potential malpractices in religious institutions, emphasizing that prompt reporting coupled with timely corrective action is essential to uphold transparency and accountability in the management of temples. The directions reflect judicial concern for ensuring that religious institutions are administered properly and that lapses or misconduct are not allowed to go unchecked because of deficiencies in reporting and follow-up mechanisms. The court’s order was delivered in the matter entitled Suo Motu v. State of Kerala and Others before a Division Bench, underscoring judicial emphasis on proactive oversight of temple administration.
Overall, the High Court’s directives establish a structured, time-bound reporting and review process for vigilance matters in temples and religious institutions managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board, strengthening institutional accountability and ensuring that concerns about misconduct or administrative irregularities are promptly surfaced and addressed.
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