A writ petition has been filed in the Kerala High Court raising serious concerns about the installation of RSS and Bajrang Dal flags and banners in the Manjippuzha Bhagavathi Bhadrakkali Temple premises at Kottukkal, Kollam, during a temple festival.
The petitioner, Prathinraj, a devotee of the temple, approached the court seeking urgent directions to ensure that the temple premises are used strictly for religious purposes and not for promoting any political outfit or agenda.
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“The 2nd and 4th respondent may be directed to ensure that the premises of Manjippuzha Bhagavathi Bhadrakkali Temple are not used for the propaganda of any political party or political outfit or political agenda.” — From the writ petition (WP(C) No.16089/2025)
The petition strongly relies on the High Court’s previous decision in Adv. Vishnu Sunil Panthalam @ Vishnu Sunil v. The Kadakkal Temple Advisory Committee. In that judgment, the Kerala High Court held that no political activities shall be conducted in any temple under the Travancore Devaswom Board's administration.
The petitioner submitted that the ongoing activities in the temple violate this directive. He mentioned that complaints were submitted to the Kadakkal Police Station by the temple advisory committee’s president and another member, which led to a formal notice being issued to the advisory committee’s secretary instructing the removal of the political flags and banners.
“After arguing for some time, the learned counsel for the petitioner seeks time to file an application to implead the persons who are allegedly conducting a mass drills, weaponry training, etc., in the temple premises.” — Order dated 11 April 2025 by Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S.
Adding to the concerns, the petitioner highlighted that during a musical program held as part of the temple’s annual festival, performers allegedly sang ‘Ganageetham’—songs praising the RSS and its founding leader Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. This, the petitioner argues, is yet another instance of political promotion disguised as a religious or cultural event.
The petition also alleges that the RSS is conducting mass drills and weapon training within the temple premises, which is in clear violation of a circular issued by the Travancore Devaswom Board. That circular explicitly prohibits any RSS sakha operations, weaponry sessions, or drills inside temples governed by the board.
The petition references the High Court’s judgment in G. Vyasan v. State of Kerala & Others (2023), which also emphasized that such politically driven or militant-style activities must not be carried out in temple properties.
The case came up for hearing on April 11, 2025, before the Division Bench comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S.
During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel sought more time to implead additional parties, specifically those alleged to be organizing the mass drills and weapon training.
Taking this into account, the court adjourned the matter to May 20, 2025, for further hearing.
The matter is now scheduled for hearing on 20th May 2025, where the court will take up the plea after the petitioner updates the party list and files the necessary documents.
Case Title: Prathinraj v State of Kerala and Others
Case No: WP(C) 16089 of 2025
