Kerala HC Closes Contempt Case Against Guruvayoor Devaswom Management Committee After It Floated Tender For Kuthaka Rights

The contempt petition stemmed from allegations that the Committee had not adhered to the High Court's directive to float tenders for the Kuthaka rights. These rights encompassed operating paid cloakrooms at the temple's east and west entrances, along with a free footwear counter at the south entrance.

A Division bench of Justice Anil K Narendran and Justice Sophy Thomas said, “The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that this contempt case may be closed, since the Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee has floated tender for the Kuthaka right in question, after the orders of the Apex Court in SLP(C)No.5405 of 2024. In such circumstances, recording the aforesaid submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel for Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee, this contempt case is closed.”

Advocate G. Sreekumar appeared for the Petitioner.

Previously, the High Court had invalidated the Committee's decision to grant these rights for the year 2023-24 to a cooperative society without a tender process. The Court mandated the Committee to issue a tender notification and complete the process within two months, following a judgment dated September 19, 2023.

In response to the contempt petition filed in January, it was alleged that the cooperative society continued operations for 2023-24 without a tender, at a specified rate plus GST. However, the Court was subsequently informed that the Committee had indeed conducted the tender process, resulting in the highest bid of ₹1.5 crores.

Acknowledging this development, the Court formally closed the contempt case against the Committee.

Cause Title: KV Pramod v. KP Vijayan & Anr., [2024:KER:49740]