Kerala High Court orders action plan for 409 Cochin Devaswom Board temples over hygiene upgrades
Kochi: The Kerala High Court has directed the Cochin Devaswom Board to ensure adequate basic amenities and infrastructure across all temples under its management, criticising the body for repeatedly failing to prioritise the essential needs of devotees.
A bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar observed that despite earlier court directions, the Board had shown “least priority” towards providing fundamental facilities for pilgrims across the temples it administers.
Kerala High Court order on temple facilities and devotee amenities
Strongly deprecating the Board’s approach, the court issued comprehensive directions to improve sanitation, hygiene, and public infrastructure across all 409 shrines managed by the Devaswom Board, including the Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple.
The court said the Board is duty-bound to ensure basic facilities such as:
- Adequate toilets for devotees and staff
- Access to safe drinking water
- Proper parking facilities
- Clean and hygienic surroundings in the temple premises
“In spite of repeated directions from this court, it appears that the Board is giving the least priority to the primary and basic needs of pilgrims. We strongly deprecate such an attitude on the part of the Board,” the bench stated.
Kerala temple infrastructure: Audit, sanitation plan and toilet complexes
The High Court directed the Devaswom Board to first conduct a detailed assessment of existing facilities in all temples, including the availability and adequacy of toilets, sanitation systems, and cleanliness standards.
It further ordered the Board to prepare a comprehensive plan for constructing toilet complexes, including separate facilities for men, women, transgender persons, and differently abled devotees.
The court also mandated the provision of bio-toilets during major temple festivals and regular cleaning of temple premises at least once a month to maintain hygiene standards.
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Affidavit to the Devaswom Commissioner within three months
The court directed the Devaswom Commissioner to submit an affidavit within three months detailing:
- Facilities available in each temple
- Daily and festival-time footfall of devotees
- Current gaps in infrastructure and sanitation
The Board has also been instructed to submit a detailed implementation scheme for constructing toilet complexes and restrooms across all temples under its control within the same timeframe.
Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple petition
The directions came while disposing of a petition highlighting inadequate facilities, including poor toilet infrastructure, at the Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple, one of Kerala’s oldest and most prominent Devi shrines dedicated to Bhadrakali.
The ruling is expected to have wider implications for temple management and devotee infrastructure standards across Kerala’s Devaswom-administered temples.
PTI