Kerala High Court on Monday asked the Travancore Devaswom Board to immediately constitute a temple advisory committee and conduct an election at Thrikkadavoor Mahadeva temple in Kollam.
The TDB submitted that there was no RSS sakha or drill being conducted on the premises of the temple. It also submitted that it had not granted sanction for any such activities of the RSS.
The TDB made the submission on a suo motu case based on a complaint stating that RSS was allegedly using the temple for imparting training in storage of arms and explosives.
The Devaswom Ombudsman pointed out that he had received a complaint from a native of Thrikkadavoor alleging that the temple was now the centre of arms training by the RSS.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice Sunil Thomas recorded the submission of the TDB. The Bench also recorded the submission that activists of RSS along with other Hindu devotees voluntarily participated and assistted the temple authorities to conduct the festivals.
The Bench further directed that since there was no temple advisory committee, the TDB should take immediate action to conduct election to constitute a committee.
“Any person holding the keys of the building or rooms allotted to the committee should surrender them immediately to the TDB official having control over the temple. The TDB should ensure that the audit of the committee's accounts are promptly conducted and submitted to the authorities concerned.
