High Court Slams TDB: Temples Should Never Be Used for Political Purposes
The Kerala High Court has told the Travancore Devaswom Board to stop people from using temples for political reasons. The court says a law called the Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act must be followed strictly. Judges Anil K. Narendran and S. Muraleekrishna gave this order in April 2025 because they’re worried temples are becoming places for politics.
This started with a complaint from Advocate Vishnu Sunil about the Kadakkal Devi Temple in Kollam. During a festival there, people sang revolutionary songs and showed symbols of the Marxist Party and DYFI on a big LED screen.
The temple’s security officer confirmed this happened, and the court wasn’t happy. They also asked how S. Vikas, a man with 19 criminal cases, got to be the head of the temple’s advisory committee. The case will be looked at again on April 10.
In Kerala, temples often get caught up in politics, with parties trying to use them to get attention. This event turned a festival into a political mess, The judges say temples should be for worship, not for pushing political ideas.
The next hearing is soon, and this decision might stop people from mixing religion with politics. The court’s message is clear: keep temples peaceful and out of political games.