The Kerala High Court on Tuesday said those active in politics cannot be appointed as a non-hereditary trustee in a temple. The order was made while hearing a petition against the appointment of two CPI(M) and a Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) worker as non-hereditary trustees at the Sree Pookkottu kalikavu Temple in Palakkad district.

The court directed the Malabar Devaswom Board to ensure that the appointment of a non-hereditary trustee in the temples under its control is done according to the directions of the Supreme Court.

WHAT IS THE CASE?

The two CPI(M) workers in the case are Ashok Kumar, the party’s local committee secretary of the Pookkottukavu unit and Ratheesh, a branch secretary of the party. They both told the court they did not hold any party posts when they were appointed as trustees.

Another involved in the case, Pankajakshan, an area secretary of the DYFI, told the court that the Democratic Youth Federation of India is not a political party. However, the court said that the DYFI’s area of activities is politics and did not accept his argument that it is not a political organisation.

The division bench of the high court said that because their term expired on February 20, they are not issuing any order quashing their appointment as trustees. However, the Malabar Devaswom Board was asked to ensure that every non-hereditary trustee appointed in the temples under its control is done in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions.

A trustee conducts temple affairs according to the customs and traditions