The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (10 December) came down heavily on the authorities of the Chottanikkara Temple, directing the Suchitwa Mission to conduct a detailed cleanliness audit and recommend concrete, implementable measures to restore hygienic conditions.

A Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar was hearing a suo motu petition concerning allegations of corruption, maladministration, and poor sanitation at the temple.

Earlier, the Court had flagged severe lapses in hygiene. Today, after examining photographs, it observed:

“The images reveal widespread filth, decay, and neglect… The absence of basic sanitation is glaring and wholly unacceptable.”

Reports from Chottanikkara Grama Panchayat showed multiple inspections in November confirming heavy rubbish accumulation, leaking contaminated wastewater, and pollution entering surrounding areas including Yakshikulam pond. A notice has been issued to the Assistant Commissioner of the Devaswom under the Kerala Public Health Act, 2023.

The Bench noted systemic failures and warned that continued neglect could cause environmental and public health hazards. While the State clarified that Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase II does not permit funding sanitation works in religious institutions, the Court stressed urgent remediation.

The Court directed the Executive Director, Suchitwa Mission to depute two senior officers to conduct a scientific cleanliness audit and submit specific, permanent solutions.

It criticised the Temple Advisory Committee, having more than twenty members, for allowing the premises to deteriorate, cautioning that failure to act on a war footing could invite adverse orders.

The matter will be taken up next on December 17.

Case Title: Suo Motu v. State of Kerala
Case No.: DBP 52/2025
Counsel: S Rajmohan (Sr GP), K P Sudheer (SC–CDB), T Madhu, C R Saradamani, B S Suraj Krishna, Avanthika R, Karthik Krishna M, Arunima A R, T S Davis, Vineeth Komalachandran