Politics has no role to play in temples; a devotee has no legal right to insist for saffron/orange coloured decorations alone: Kerala High Court
The court said that the right to worship is a civil right in an accustomed manner, and subject to the practice and tradition in each temple.
While hearing a plea pertaining to a recent controversy over the colour of the decorations used for the Kaliyootu festival at Major Vellayani Bhadrakali Devi Temple managed by Travancore Devaswom Board, the Kerala High Court recently observed that "politics has no role to play in the conduct of daily worship and ceremonies and festivals in temples".
A division bench consisting of Justice Anil K Narendran and Justice PG Ajithkumar held that a worshipper or a devotee has no legal right to insist that saffron/orange coloured decorative materials alone are used for festivals in a temple under the management of the Travancore Devaswom Board.
"Similarly, the District Administration or the Police cannot insist that only ‘politically neutral’ coloured decorative materials are used for temple festivals," the bench added.
The bench emphasized that the Kaliyoottu festival at the temple has to be conducted in accordance with its custom, rituals, and practices.
However, the bench underscored that the Travancore Devaswom Board is free to approach the police in case there is any apprehension that there may be law and order issues in the temple premises that could affect the smooth conduct of the festival and in such eventuality, appropriate steps shall be taken by the concerned authorities.
Essentially, the court was dealing with two pleas - one filed by the Temple Advisory Committee and the other by a devotee of the Major Vellayani Bhadrakali Devi Temple.
The pleas had been filed against the orders of a District Magistrate and the Police who had directed that only "politically neutral" coloured decorations be used at the temple for celebrating festivals etc.
In the plea, the police filed its counter in which it stated that there had been instances of disputes between rival groups of devotees supported by political parties over arches, flags, decorations, festoons, etc. in the temple during festivals and ceremonies.
Therefore, the police asserted that no restrictions had been made on the use of saffron colour, only it had been ordered that it be used with other colours for the decorations.
Adjudicating upon the issue, the division bench referred to the high court's decision in Anil Kumar AG v Travancore Devaswom Board & Ors. and said that even though the police have the right to take steps to maintain law and order at the festival, in a bid to take measures to maintain law and order situation, interference with the conduct of the festival is impermissible.
Case Title: Sreeraj Krishna Potti MS v Travancore Devaswom Board & Ors. and connected matter