Kochi, 11 July (H.S.):The Kerala High Court has ruled that all assets held by the Thiruvizha Mahakshetram Bhaktajana Samithi belong exclusively to the presiding deity of the temple and directed that they be transferred to the Travancore Devaswom Board.

The judgment was delivered by the Devaswom Bench comprising Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K. V. Jayakumar while disposing of petitions filed by the temple's advisory committee and other parties in connection with the administration of the Travancore Devaswom Board-managed shrine.

The dispute arose after the Devaswom Board granted the Bhaktajana Samithi the status of a temple advisory committee in 2017. However, following an earlier High Court judgment, that status was withdrawn in 2018. Subsequently, members of the newly constituted advisory committee, including its president Sukumara Menon, approached the High Court alleging that the Bhaktajana Samithi had failed to hand over temple lands, bank accounts, gold and other assets to the Devaswom Board.

The Bhaktajana Samithi argued that the properties had been acquired using its own funds raised for charitable activities and therefore could not be treated as temple assets. Rejecting the contention, the court held that a temple advisory committee has no separate legal identity or independent existence beyond assisting the Devaswom Board in temple administration.

The Bench also took note of serious findings in an audit report that highlighted alleged financial irregularities in the functioning of the Bhaktajana Samithi. These included failure to maintain proper records of donations, expenditure without supporting vouchers, lack of transparency in handling public offerings, and large amounts allegedly spent on the temple's annadanam (free meal) scheme without proper receipts.

The court directed the Revenue and Registration authorities to immediately transfer all lands registered in the name of the Bhaktajana Samithi under the Pattanakkad Sub-Registrar's jurisdiction to the name of the temple deity. It also ordered the committee to hand over all valuables, keys to temple lockers and other temple properties to the Travancore Devaswom Board within 30 days.

Further, the Alappuzha District Registrar has been directed to decide within two months on the Devaswom Board's application seeking cancellation of the registration of the 'Thiruvizha Mahakshetram Bhaktajana Samithi.'

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman