Alleged Covid protocol violation throughout businessman’s son’s marriage ceremony at Guruvayur temple

By Express News Service

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the administrator of Guruvayur Devaswom to tell the court docket in regards to the variety of marriages performed within the temple from August up to now and the variety of marriages allotted in every ‘Mandapam’. The court docket issued the order on the suo motu proceedings in reference to an internet media report relating to the ornament of the Nadappantal utilizing cutouts and tree branches other than flowers for the wedding of distinguished businessman Ravi Pillai’s son on the Guruvayur temple.

The court docket additionally directed the Guruvayur Devaswom administrator as to whether permission was granted to brighten Nadappanthal utilizing supplies aside from flowers within the type of Pushapalankaram. The court docket ordered that the CCTV footage of the Nadappanthal space on the day of the wedding ought to be saved in secure custody till additional orders.

Citing the videography and studies relating to the wedding perform, the court docket noticed that it appears that evidently the Nadappanthal of the temple was just about transformed as an auditorium and a number of other numbers of individuals attended the perform at a time the Covid protocol was in pressure. The court docket additionally issued discover to the state authorities, Ravi Pillai, Thrissur SP, and the sectoral Justice of the Peace.

The Guruvayur Devaswom had knowledgeable the court docket that daily about 110 marriages have been held on the Nadapandal in strict conformity with the Covid protocol. In truth, solely 12 individuals, excluding bride and bridegroom, have been allowed to take part in a wedding. When the case got here up for listening to, the Division Bench comprising Justice Anil Okay Narendran and Justice Okay Babu noticed that there was numerous individuals attended the wedding perform in query.

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The court docket requested whether or not the Covid protocol was adopted? Whether these decorations have been one thing that may be anticipated within the temple premises? How can or not it’s termed as a ‘Pushpalangaram’ as submitted by the Guruvayur Devaswom Committee? The court docket additionally requested what number of marriages have taken place on that exact day and out of the three mandapam, whether or not one was set aside solely for the wedding of the son of the businessman? The counsel of Guruvayur Devaswom sought time to get particulars on this regard.

The court docket screened the video of the wedding within the digital courtroom. The court docket mentioned that each worshipper has a proper to conduct a wedding in entrance of the Guruvayur temple. There shouldn’t be any distinction if he’s a constitutional authority, an industrialist, or a celeb.

The Guruvayur Devaswom Act said that the duties of the executive committee embrace that “subject to the custom and usage in the temple to arrange for the proper performance of the rites and ceremonies in the Temple.” A Division Bench of the High Court had additionally held that the committee which features as a trustee is certain to manage, management, and handle the property of the property belonging to the Devaswom in accordance with public and within the curiosity of worshipers.

In an affidavit, the administrator submitted that Ravi Pillai had submitted a request earlier than the managing committee looking for permission to carry out Pushapalankaram of temple premises together with  Nadapanthal and Kalyana Mandapam as a part of the wedding of his son on September 9 and it was allowed. The order of the High Court was additionally intimated to his and the SHO, temple police station Guruvayur to make sure strict compliance of Covid protocol is maintained. The administrator claimed that no violations of orders of the High Court or Covid protocol have been permitted throughout the marriage.

The court docket then requested whether or not any non-public safety personnel have been allowed throughout the marriage perform and did they stop devotees from coming into the premises? The state authorities submitted that safety duties are completed by the individuals appointed by the managing committee and no non-public individuals have been allowed.

The court docket mentioned that within the video there was numerous individuals in black shirts. Some individuals in black shirts have been additionally appearing like ‘black cats’ who’re offering safety guards to individuals within the Z class. The court docket additional requested to elucidate whether or not any worker has been suspended following the allegation {that a} automobile was permitted to enter the temple premises as a part of the wedding.