Kerala High Court | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Kochi: Kerala High Court has instructed the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund to refund of Rs 10 crore that was donated by Guruvayur Devaswom board. The court clarified that all the temple assets belong to lord Guruvayurappan and that Devaswom board’s role is only to protect these assets.
As per section 27 of Devaswom act, this money cannot be spent for any other purpose. Donating money to Disaster Relief Fund does not fall within the purview of the Devaswom board. The board does not have the authority to give instructions in this regard. The High Court division bench consisting of 3 members ruled that Rs 10 crore, donated by the Devaswom board during the Kerala floods and the pandemic, will have to be returned.
The High Court order was based on the petition filed by Hindu Aikya Vedi leader which claimed that the Devaswom board had no right to donate the money that was submitted as offerings to the temple.
The Devaswom board had argued that there was nothing wrong in using the money for non-temple related expenses as it was donated by people across all religions. However, the court ruled that it was a violation of Devaswom act.
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