New Delhi: Supreme Court of India here on Monday ordered to continue the status quo in the case against Guruvayur Devaswom Board for contributing to the Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). It also sent notices to the parties in the case.

The court is considering the Board's appeal against a Kerala High Court full bench verdict that stated the Devaswom Board cannot donate money to the CMDRF. It said as per section 27 of the Guruvayoor Devaswom Act, donations to the CMDRF does not fall under the purview of the Board.

So far, the Devawom Board donated Rs 10 cr to the CMDRF during the 2018 floods and the Covid lockdown period.

The Board argued that it donated funds by considering the interests of the devotees as well. Lord Krishna was a 'Dharma Pracharak'. Hence the money in his name can be used for the people, it argued before the court.

Meanwhile, the court orally asked what was wrong with the Board donating money to the CMDRF. It also asked if the Board doesn't have the right to decide how to spend its money.