SC upholds deity’s rights over land bought with devotees’ contributions

New Delhi: The ownership of land purchased with money collected in the name of Lord Ernakulathappan rests with the deity, and its management must be entrusted to the Devaswom Board, the Supreme Court has held.

The court made the observation while dismissing a special leave petition filed by the Ernakulam Kshethra Kshema Samithi, challenging the Kerala High Court's order concerning the ownership and management of Ernakulathappan Ground.

The Samithi had challenged the High Court's direction that the Cochin Devaswom Board alone should exercise control over Ernakulathappan Ground. The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's position.

The Temple Advisory Committee had contended that it also had a share in the ownership of the land purchased using funds collected under the 'Ernakulathappanu Oradi Mannu' (One Foot of Land for Ernakulathappan) campaign.

However, the High Court had ruled that a private organisation functioning as a Temple Advisory Committee could not claim individual ownership over property purchased using money collected in the name of the deity. The Supreme Court upheld this position.

The court's decision establishes that the land purchased with devotees' contributions constitutes the property of the deity and is to be managed by the Cochin Devaswom Board as trustee.

Senior advocates V. Giri and K. Parameshwar, along with advocate Amit Krishnan, appeared for the Temple Advisory Committee. Senior advocate P. N. Ravindran and advocate P. S. Sudheer represented the Cochin Devaswom Board.