In a significant ruling, the Kerala High Court has directed five co-operative societies to return fixed deposits belonging to Sree Thirunelly Devaswom, an ancient temple in Wayanad district. The judgment, delivered by a bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar, comes as a relief to the temple authorities who have been struggling to secure funds for much-needed renovation work.
The court was hearing a writ petition filed by the executive officer of the temple, who alleged that the co-operative societies had refused to repay fixed deposits despite repeated requests. The temple, governed by the Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1951, relies heavily on donations from devotees and income from rituals. These funds were deposited in various banks and co-operative societies as per existing norms.
However, audit reports revealed that the temple had deposited funds in five co-operative societies-Thirunelli Service Co-operative Bank, Susheela Gopalan Smaraka Vanitha Co-operative Society, Mananthawady Co-operative Rural Society, Mananthawady Co-operative Urban Society, and Wayanad District Temple Employees Co-operative Society-in violation of circulars issued by the Malabar Devaswom Board. The board had earlier directed that temple funds should only be deposited in nationalized banks, scheduled banks, or profitable co-operative banks near the temple.
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Delivering the judgment, the court observed, "The respondents 9 to 13 are directed to close the fixed deposits and other deposits of the petitioner and repay the amount due within a period of two months from the date of receipt of copy of this judgment." The bench also emphasized the need to protect temple funds, citing a Supreme Court ruling that properties of deities and temples must be safeguarded by trustees and authorities.
The court’s decision is expected to set a precedent for similar cases where temple funds are stuck in non-compliant financial institutions. For Sree Thirunelly Devaswom, the repayment means the much-delayed renovation can finally begin, ensuring the preservation of this historic site for future generations.
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Case Title: Sree Thirunelly Devaswom vs. State of Kerala & Others
Case No.: WP(C) No. 21455 of 2025
