Kerala HC Permits Devaswom Commissioner To Publish Lists Of Candidates For Draw Of Lots For Selection As Melsanthies Of Sabarimala & Malikappuram

The Kerala High Court has permitted the Devaswom Commissioner to publish the select lists of the candidates for the draw of lots scheduled to be held on October 17, 2024 for selection as Melsanthies of Sabarimala and Malikappuram Devaswoms for the year 1200ME (2024-25).

The Court was dealing with a suo motu case in which the Travancore Devaswom Board-Sabarimala Special Commissioner submitted a report regarding the said selection process.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice P.G. Ajithkumar said, “In the above circumstances, subject to the further orders to be passed in this SSCR, we grant permission to the Devaswom Commissioner to publish the select lists of the candidates for the draw of lots scheduled to be held on 17.10.2024 for selection as Melsanthies of Sabarimala and Malikappuram Devaswoms for the year 1200ME (2024-25), subject to the condition that the inclusion of the names of additional respondents 5 and 6, namely, Pramod M. and Yogesh Nampoothiri T.K., in those select lists will be subject to further orders to be passed in this SSCR. Their names will be included in the draw of lots scheduled to be held on 17.10.2024 only after obtaining the orders of this Court.”

Senior Government Pleader (SGP) S. Rajmohan represented the Travancore Devaswom Board and Amicus Curiae Sayujya Radhakrishnan represented the Special Commissioner, Sabarimala.

In this case, on October 1, 2024, the Registry placed a report of Justice T.R. Ramachandran Nair, former Judge of the Kerala High Court who was appointed as Observer to oversee the proceedings for selection of Melsanthies of Sabarimala and Malikappuram Devaswoms at the Travancore Devaswom Board Headquarters, Thiruvananthapuram. The Standing Counsel for the Board produced a sealed cover containing the mark list, tabulation sheet, and shortlist for appointment to the post of Melsanthies at Sabarimala and Malikappuram Devaswoms for the year 1200ME, along with 7 compact discs.

Registry had received a complaint on September 30, 2024 in which it was alleged that a few candidates who don’t have the required 10 years’ continuous experience as Melsanthi within a period of 12 years were also included in the list of candidates to be interviewed. On October 3, 2024, the applications for selection were made available and thereafter vide an order, the Registry was directed to keep in safe custody another two complaints received regarding the selection process.

The High Court in the above regard, directed, “Registry to issue notice to additional respondents 5 and 6 through e-mail, returnable by 14.10.2024. A complete set of this SSCR and a copy of this order shall be enclosed, along with the notice.”

The Court further directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to proceed with the draw of lots, which shall be conducted in terms of the direction contained in the earlier orders of the Court, in the presence of the Observer and also the Special Commissioner, Sabarimala.

“Registrar (Judicial) shall keep in safe custody the sealed cover containing the report of the learned Observer and also the CDs of the selection proceedings for selection of Melsanthies of Sabarimala and Malikappuram Devaswoms, for the year 1200ME (2024-25), along with the mark lists, tabulation sheets and photocopy of the select lists of the candidates for the draw of lots for selection of Melsanthies of Sabarimala and Malikappuram Devaswom”, it added.

The Court also ordered that the Registrar (Judicial) shall hand over the sealed cover containing the original select lists of the candidates for the draw of lots for selection of Melsanthies of Sabarimala and Malikappuram Devaswoms to the Standing Counsel for Travancore Devaswom Board, who shall handover the same to the Devaswom Commissioner.

Accordingly, the High Court listed the case for further consideration on October 14, 2024.

Cause Title- Suo Motu v. State of Kerala and Ors.

Click here to read/download the Order