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photo credits: Matrubhumi English

On Tuesday, The Kerala High Court division bench of Justice Anil K Narendran and Justice P G Ajith Kumar directed the Devaswom commissioner to initiate action against employees in the Establishment Wing and Class-4 staffers who failed to report for special duty at Sabarimala, Pampa and Nilakkal. Only those who skipped work on genuine medical grounds have been exempted.

The Bench said,

“When surplus income from Sabarimala Devaswom is being utilised for managing 1,190 temples under Travancore Devaswom Board that are not self-sufficient and also for paying salary to Devaswom employees and pension to pensioners, employees’ reluctance in reporting for special duty during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season at Sabarimala, Pampa and Nilakkal cannot be viewed lightly.” 

The Court was hearing a report filed by the Special Commissioner, Sabarimala regarding the shortage of employees at Sabarimala Sannidhanam, Pamba and Nilakkal.

In December 2021, the Court had directed the Devaswom Commissioner to depute 20 additional staff from the establishment wing and 200 additional class-4 employees for special duty. It had further ordered that in case any of the employees deputed for special duty are reluctant to join other than on genuine medical grounds, they shall be proceeded against by initiating disciplinary proceedings.

The report filed by the Special Commissioner pointed out that the turnout of employees posted during the festival season was far less than what was ordered by the Court. In order to completely count the accumulated currency notes and coins in the Bhandaram of Sabarimala Temple, at least 100 Class-4 employees from 19 groups of Travancore Devaswom Board are required, it was pointed out. Out of the said 100 Class-4 employees, at least 80 employees are required just to clear the counting of pending and accumulated currency notes and coins in the Bhandram, the report stated.

The bench directed the Devaswom Commissioner to obtain, by Wednesday, reports from the concerned Assistant Devaswom Commissioners regarding the names of the staff in the Establishment Wing and class-4 employees, who failed to report for the special duty for reasons other than genuine medical grounds and to furnish the same to the Special Commissioner, Sabarimala.

After receiving the reports from the Assistant Devaswom Commissioners, the Devaswom Commissioner “shall initiate appropriate proceedings against the staff in the Establishment Wing and class-4 employees, who failed to report for special duty at Sabarimala, Pamba and Nilakkal, other than on genuine medical grounds, and the action taken shall be reported to this court,” the bench directed.

It also directed the Devaswom Commissioner to provide, to the Special Commissioner, a list of the male employees who have not done Sabarimala special duty for the last two years.

Case Title: Suo Moto v. Travancose Devansom Board