The Kerala High Court, in a befitting response, puts an end to the Communist government’s penchant of appropriating temple funds for projects other than temple maintenance. A full bench of the High Court ordered the state government to return ₹10 crores it had received from the Guruvayur Devasom Board towards the Chief Minister’s relief fund.
Back in May, Guruvayur Devasom Board Chairman, KB Mohandas, had handed over the fund to the Thrissur district collector, claiming that the contribution is part of Devasom’s social responsibility. It is worth noting that KB Mohandas is incidentally is also a Communist, who has been a functionary of the CPI(M) All India Lawyers’ Union.
Strangely enough, other religious institutions were not asked to do the same. Many Hindu bodies had condemned the decision saying it was unlawful, but no avail. KB Mohandas, in his brazenness, stated that the temple board had earlier donated to CM’s relief fund during the floods in 2018.
Kerala has a total of five Devasom Boards, which have been given control of Hindu temple assets by the government.
Left without respite, a devotee, N Nagesh, had approached the Kerala High Court saying that the presiding deity was the sole proprietor of the temple fund. He further stated that the board has no right to divert the shrine fund.
Kerala High Court in its order said, “Matters such as contributions towards disaster relief fund do not fall under the preview of the Devasom Board. It can protect the temple wealth but has no right to pass it on to someone else.” The court also said that the temple fund was meant to develop the shrine and its allied services and it was not proper to divert it for other reasons.
Completing eroding any claims the communist government had on the temple funds, Kerala High Court said, “All the properties, including movable and immovable properties and money, dedicated to or endowed in the name of Lord Guruvayurappan or any property acquired in any manner by Guruvayur Devaswom shall vest in the idol of Lord Guruvayurappa, consecrated in Sree Krishna Temple, Guruvayur.”
Many organisations, including the Hindu Aikya Vedi, have lauded the verdict.
It is worthy to be mentioned that the Communist government of Kerala is in control of approximately 14,000 acres of land belonging to the Sri Guruvayur Temple, and as compensation for the same, it offers the temple a meagre 13 lakh annual return, which translates to a monthly income of ₹8/- per acre. If this is not robbery of the highest order, what is?
Under a Communist rule, Hindu temples suffer the brunt of a toxic and violent ideology, which is known to exploit positions of power and various institutions to benefit itself. The same is evident in Kerala, where Hindu temple coffers are being sucked dry by a thirsty government which has installed its proxies in positions of power to administrate temples.
This judicious order of the Kerala High Court is the first step towards reversing this vicious cycle of untoward government interference and unfairness.