WP(C) NO. 16130 OF 2025 1 2025:KER:32033 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE D. K. SINGH FRIDAY, THE 11TH DAY OF APRIL 2025 / 21ST CHAITHRA, 1947 WP(C) NO. 16130 OF 2025 PETITIONER/S: KRISHNA KUMAR AGED 39 YEARS S/O UDAYA SHARMA, ‘SANTHI’, KUMBALLOOR KAVU DEVASOM, VELINELLOOR, KOTTARAKARA, KOLLAM. RESIDING AT KRISHNA VIHAR, KOTTARA, MEEYANNOOR P.O, POOYAPALLI, KOLLAM, PIN - 691537 BY ADVS. S. MOHAMMED AL RAFI THAJUNA MARIA FRANCIS RESPONDENT/S: 1 TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, DEVASWOM HEAD QUARTERS, NANDANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695003 2 THE COMMISSIONER TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, DEVASWOM HEAD QUARTERS, NANDANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695003 3 THE DEPUTY DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, NANTHANCODE, KOWDIAR POST, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695003 4 THE ASSISTANT DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, KOTTARAKARA, PIN – 691506 WP(C) NO. 16130 OF 2025 2 2025:KER:32033 5 THE ASSISTANT DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, NEYYATTINKARA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695121 OTHER PRESENT: P.U. VINOD KUMAR-SC THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 11.04.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(C) NO. 16130 OF 2025 3 2025:KER:32033 JUDGMENT The petitioner is working as ‘Santhi’ at Kumballoor Kavu Devaswom under the Velinelloor Subgroup in Kottarakara Group under the Travancore Devaswom Board. He has approached this Court aggrieved by his transfer from the Kottarakara Group to the Neyyattinkara Group. 2. The impugned order in Ext.P3 passed by the Devaswom Commissioner would read as under: “Against Sri. Krishna Kumar, Santhi Grade-2 Kumballoor Kavu Devaswom, Velinalloor Sub Group, Kottarakara Group, devotees submitted several complaints before advisory committee as well as Sub Group officer. He has not corrected his lapses despite several demands. Sub group officer reported that his actions caused stigma to the sacredness and purity of the temple along with the application of advisory committee. Based on that report. Assistant Devaswom Commissioner visited the Devaswom on 11-02-2025 at 6.30 A.M. At that time, it was found that the petitioner performed poojas by using the sacred cloths and other materials used in the earlier day without performing poojas properly. When the sacred clothes were called upon to be removed, the deity was not found having wetness. Thereupon, the WP(C) NO. 16130 OF 2025 4 2025:KER:32033 Assistant Devaswom Commissioner issued show cause notice to him and obtained a reply from him. Based on that, reference report was obtained with recommendation to transfer from the group. Sri. Krishna Kumar, Santhi, Kumballoor Kavu Devaswom are exhibiting irresponsibility in performing temple affairs, regular poojas and other rituals hurting the beliefs of the devotees and his actions caused difficulties to the devotees and department and thereby department sustained loss in income. Considering the reference report, this order is hereby issued transferring him in the post of full time Santhi in Neyyattinkara Group.” Considering the facts stated in the impugned order, this Court finds no ground to interfere with the impugned order of transfer. Thus, this writ petition is dismissed. However, the petitioner has made a representation in Ext.P4, which the Devaswom Commissioner may consider independently within two months without being prejudiced by the dismissal of the writ petition. Sd/- D. K. SINGH JUDGE jjj WP(C) NO. 16130 OF 2025 5 2025:KER:32033 APPENDIX OF WP(C) 16130/2025 PETITIONER EXHIBITS Exhibit P1 TRUE COPY OF THE SHOW CAUSE NOTICE DATED NIL IN FEBRUARY 2025 ALONG WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION ISSUED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT Exhibit P2 TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED NIL SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER ALONG WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION Exhibit P3 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.ROC4868/25/S DATED 08-04-2025 ALONG WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION ISSUED BY THE 2 ND RESPONDENT Exhibit P4 TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED 10-04-2025 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER TO THE 2 ND RESPONDENT ALONG WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION