Kerala High Court Flags Hygiene Issues, Lack Of Maintenance In Chottanikkara Temple

The Kerala High Court recently suo motu impleaded Executive Director (Suchitwa Mission), Executive Engineer of Maramath Wing, Cochin Devaswom Board and Assistant Engineer, Chottanikkara Devaswom as additional respondents in a petition concerning lapses in cleanliness and maintenance in Chottanikkara Temple.

The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar was considering a suo motu petition based on a complaint alleging corruption and maladministration in the temple. The complaint depicted absence of basic amenities, misconduct by temple staff, deterioration in quality of offerings to the deity, financial irregularities, etc. It also contained photographs containing filth and decay in the kitchen and surrounding areas, substantial damage to the structural components of the temple.

The Court observed that the materials reveal a "complete lack of hygiene and sanitation." It thus ordered,

"The Executive Engineer, Maramath Wing, Cochin Devaswom Board, and the Assistant Engineer, Chottanikkara Devaswom, shall be personally present before this Court. They shall specifically state before us the steps they have taken to remedy the situation at Chottanikkara."

It recorded that several of the recommendations made by the District Co-ordinator, Navakeralam Karma Padhathi had not been complied with. In March, the District Co-ordinator had noted various defects during inspection and had communicated to the Assistant Commissioner of the Devaswom remedial measures, including a proper bin system for waste segregation, installation of a water-treatment plant, setting up of an incinerator, etc.

By its earlier order, the Court had suo motu impleaded the Chottanikkara Grama Panchayat and the District Town Planner as additional respondents.

The matter will be considered again on September 24 (Wednesday).

Case No: DBP No. 52/2025

Case Title: Suo Motu v. State of Kerala

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