Kerala High Court Dissolves Ashtamangalam Temple Committee Amid Mismanagement Allegations
Court also directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to assume direct administration of the temple and ordered a vigilance probe into the committee’s alleged mismanagement and financial irregularities within three months;
To protect temple administration from mismanagement, the Kerala High Court on August 1 dissolved the Temple Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Ashtamangalam Sree Mahavishnu–Sree Bhagavathy Temple in Punalur, Kollam, and directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to take over its administration.
The bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S. passed the order while disposing of a writ petition filed by a devotee and connected suo motu proceedings initiated on the basis of the Devaswom Ombudsman’s report.
The controversy began after the Assistant Devaswom Commissioner, on January 10, extended the TAC’s tenure by six months beyond its expiry on February 21, 2025. The extension was justified on grounds that work on the temple flag mast (Kodimaram) remained incomplete. However, devotees objected to the move, alleging that the committee had mismanaged temple affairs, violated rituals, and mishandled temple funds.
According to the petitioner, the committee, which came into existence in February 2023, had lost legitimacy after several of its members resigned in November 2024 citing financial irregularities. Complaints were also raised regarding the removal of the Kodimaram base without proper discussion, defiance of the Thantri’s advice, and instances where devotees were denied poojas inside the temple premises. The petitioners further alleged that temple funds were being operated through accounts of a cooperative society, a clear violation of rules.
The Ombudsman for the Travancore and Cochin Devaswom Boards, acting on a complaint, had also flagged similar issues, prompting the high court to initiate parallel suo motu proceedings.
In its detailed judgment, the bench noted that complaints against the TAC, if found correct, were “serious in nature,” including allegations of misappropriation of offerings such as gold ornaments donated by devotees. Court found that the Devaswom Board’s decision to extend the TAC’s tenure was made without considering these complaints or the resignations, which raised questions of propriety and legality.
Citing earlier precedents, the bench reiterated that temple properties and rituals are to be safeguarded with utmost diligence. Referring to Supreme Court ruling in M.V. Ramasubbiar v. Manicka Narasimhachari (1979), the high court underlined that trustees and temple committees occupy a fiduciary position and must not act in ways that benefit themselves or undermine the sanctity of temple administration.
Court directed the Assistant Devaswom Commissioner to forward the devotees’ complaint dated January 6, 2025, to the vigilance wing of the TDB within a week. The vigilance wing has been asked to complete its inquiry within three months and submit its report to the Devaswom Commissioner, who must then act in accordance with law.
Importantly, the bench ordered that the present Temple Advisory Committee be dissolved immediately, with administration of the temple to be directly managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board until further orders.
Case Title: Jijendran S R vs. Travancore Devaswom Board and Others
Order Date: August 1, 2025
Bench: Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S.