Biryani lunch on temple premises: HC for appropriate action

Biryani lunch on temple premises: HC for appropriate action 

PADMANABHASWAMY TEMPLE  18.10.2024

Kochi : The high court on Thursday directed the administrative committee of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram to take appropriate action against those responsible for conducting a biryani lunch at the temple’s Mathilakam office. The bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and P G Ajith Kumar, while disposing of petitions seeking action against the temple’s executive officer, emphasized that merely terminating the service of temporary staff is insufficient. 

They added that such activities cannot be permitted in the Mathilakam office, which is part of the temple premises. Petitioners C Sajith and Babilu Sankar had filed petitions citing that a biryani lunch was held on July 6 at the Mathilakam office, located in the Ulsava Madom Buildings adjacent to the North Nada of the temple, violating the temple’s customs and rituals. They alleged that chicken biryani was served to staff to celebrate the appointment of an employee’s child to a govt position. 

The petitioners claimed that the non-vegetarian meal was organized under the supervision of the executive officer and sought his removal. Photographs of the food packets were also produced as evidence. Upon reviewing the petitions, the bench noted that the chief vigilance officer’s report on the incident is still pending before the temple’s administrative committee. As a result, the court declined to consider the contentions raised, stating that it is up to the administrative committee to make an appropriate decision.

The bench clarified that the petitioners cannot seek such relief through a writ petition. However, the bench assured that necessary directions would be provided to prevent such incidents from recurring on the temple premises.