WP(C) NO. 23791 OF 2024 1 2025:KER:29888 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE D. K. SINGH MONDAY, THE 7TH DAY OF APRIL 2025 / 17TH CHAITHRA, 1947 WP(C) NO. 23791 OF 2024 PETITIONER/S: SHIBIN V.S., AGED 34 YEARS S/O VASUDEVAN S, WORKING AS ‘SHANTHI’, TRAVANCORE DEVASWAM BOARD, NEYYATTINKARA GROUP, RESIDING AT VALIYAVILA VEEDU, PULLUVILA, PULLUVILA P.O, NEYYATTINKARA TALUK, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695526 BY ADV Bhavana K K RESPONDENT/S: 1 TRAVANCORE DEVASWAM BOARD HEAD OFFICE, NANTHANCODE, KOWDIAR P.O, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY, PIN - 695003 2 DEVASWAM COMMISSIONER TRAVANCORE DEVASWAM BOARD, HEAD OFFICE, NANTHANCODE, KOWDIAR P.O, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695003 3 ASSISTANT DEVASWAM COMMISSIONER NEYYATTINKARA GROUP, NEYYATTINKARA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695121 4 MAHESH K “SHANTHI’, TRAVANCORE DEVASWAM BOARD, NEYYATTINKARA GROUP, VENGANOOR (KEEZHSHANTHI), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695042 BY ADV P.U.VINOD KUMAR THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING FINALLY HEARD ON 07.04.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(C) NO. 23791 OF 2024 2 2025:KER:29888 JUDGMENT The petitioner is employed as ‘Shanti’ at Kuttichal Ganapathiyamkunnu Temple, Thirunelloorsala, Neyyattinkara Devaswom Group. According to the petitioner, as per the transfer guidelines issued by the 1st Respondent/Dewaswom Board, the petitioner is entitled to transfer to Neyyattinkara. 2. The petitioner had submitted an application in Ext.P2 dated 27.02.2024 in the prescribed format seeking his transfer to Neyyattinkara temple as per the provisions of transfer guidelines and Circular No. ROC 04/24/S dated 31.01.2024. 2.1 The learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that as per the seniority of ‘Shantis’ working with the 1st respondent Devaswom Board, the petitioner should be transferred from the present temple to Neyyattinkara temple. However, in violation of the transfer guidelines and the Circular as well as the seniority, the petitioner has not been WP(C) NO. 23791 OF 2024 3 2025:KER:29888 transferred, and some junior person has been posted. 2.2 The petitioner again filed a representation on 01.07.2024 in Ext.P6 before the Devaswom Board. The learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner would be satisfied if a direction is issued to the Devaswom Board to consider the petitioner’s representation in Ext.P6 and take an appropriate decision. 3. The learned Counsel representing the Devaswom Board does not have much objection to the said prayer made by the learned Counsel for the petitioner on behalf of the petitioner. 4. Considering the aforementioned facts, the present writ petition is disposed of with directions to respondents 1 to 3 Devaswom Board to consider and take a decision on the Ext.P6 application expeditiously, preferably within one month. The petitioner should be afforded the opportunity of hearing before taking a decision on Ext.P6 representation of the petitioner. WP(C) NO. 23791 OF 2024 4 2025:KER:29888 The writ petition stands disposed of with the aforementioned direction. Sd/- D. K. SINGH JUDGE jjj WP(C) NO. 23791 OF 2024 5 2025:KER:29888 APPENDIX OF WP(C) 23791/2024 PETITIONER EXHIBITS Exhibit P1 THE TRUE COPY OF THE CIRCULAR NO. R.O.C 04/24/S DATED 31.01.2024 ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT Exhibit P2 THE TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 27.02.2024 IN THE PRESCRIBED FORMAT SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER Exhibit P3 TRUE COPY OF THE GENERAL TRANSFER GUIDELINES NO. R.O.C 1527/22/MIS.I DATED 05.03.2022 ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT Exhibit P4 THE TRUE COPY THE PROCEEDINGS NO. 4431 DATED 30.05.2024 ISSUED BY THE ASSISTANT DEVASWAM COMMISSIONER, NEYYATTINKARA GROUP Exhibit P5 THE TRUE COPY OF THE PROCEEDINGS NO.4797 DATED 29.06.2024 ISSUED BY THE ASSISTANT DEVASWAM COMMISSIONER, NEYYATTINKARA GROUP Exhibit P6 THE TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED 01.07.2024 ADDRESSED TO THE RESPONDENTS 1 TO 3 Exhibit P1 True translation of Exhibit P1 Exhibit P2 True translation of Exhibit P2 Exhibit P3 True translation of Exhibit P3 Exhibit P4 True translation of Exhibit P4 Exhibit P5 True translation of Exhibit P5 Exhibit P6 True translation of Exhibit P6