Kerala High Court Directs Filing Of Counter Affidavits In Plea Alleging Weapon Training In Temple By RSS Members

The Kerala High Court today directed the respondents to file their counter affidavits in a writ petition filed alleging that members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are conducting illegal activities in Sree Sarkara Devi Temple in Chirayinkeezhu, Thiruvananthapuram. The Court adjourned the matter by ten days to enable the filing of counter affidavits by respondents.

The Division Bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice P.G. Ajithkumar noted in its order that the 6th respondent, (one of the two persons against whom relief is sought) has sought time to file his counter affidavit. "The learned senior government pleader, on instructions from the 5th respondent Station House Officer would submit that based on the complaint made by the 4th respondent Administrative Officer, the SHO has conducted an enquiry. At present there is no law and order issues and that the affidavit of the said respondent explaining the facts and circumstances shall be placed on record within 10 days". The Court also noted that the Counsel for the Devaswom Board sought time to file an affidavit. The Court directed that the affidavit of the 7th respondent (one of the two persons against whom relief is sought) also be placed on record before the next posting.

Advocate S. Nikhil Sankar appeared for the petitioners while Advocate S. Biju appeared for the 6th respondent and submitted that he is not an official of the organisation concerned and that there is no activity at present in the Temple and that the same was stopped long back, much before the writ petition was filed.  

The writ petition is filed by two individuals claiming to be devotees of the temple, seeking to restrain two individual respondents from "unauthorized use and illegal occupancy of temple and temple premises for conducting mass drill and weaponry training". 

The Temple concerned is under the administration of the Travancore Devaswom Board. The petitioners had sought an interim relief of direction to the Administrative Officer of the Temple and the Station House Officer of the Police to implement the earlier decisions of the Board that prohibits mass drill activities in Temple premises under the Board's control. 

The Bench had issued notice to parties on June 20 and the matter was adjourned to today. "The learned Senior Government Pleader and also the learned Standing Counsel for Travancore Devaswom Board to get instructions", the Court had directed.   

Cause Title: G. Vyasan & Anr. v. State of Kerala & Ors. [WP(c) No. 18621 of 2023]