The Supreme Court appointed retired Justice K Ramakrishnan as administrator of the Oachira Parabrahma Temple to ensure free and fair management. He must oversee elections within four months, restore temple order, and address historic disputes. The court stressed the need for transparency while safeguarding the temple’s heritage and properties.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, took a significant step toward ensuring the “free and fair” administration of the ancient Oachira Parabrahma Temple by appointing retired Kerala High Court judge Justice K Ramakrishnan as an administrator. The decision aims to restore order and transparency in the temple’s administration and management elections.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and R Mahadevan highlighted the temple’s historical importance, describing it as “unique, ancient, and historical” with sprawling grounds of 21.25 acres. The temple also operates crucial public institutions, including a hospital, a nursing college, and a nursing school.
“In the given facts, it is imperative to restore, protect and preserve temples and their properties with utmost care,”
the bench emphasized while entrusting Justice Ramakrishnan with the responsibility.
Justice Ramakrishnan has been tasked with overseeing the temple’s election process. This includes:
- Finalizing and Publishing the Voters’ List: A critical step to ensure fairness and transparency.
- Completing the Election Process in Four Months: The exercise must strictly adhere to the temple’s bye-laws.
To expedite the process, the administrator is allowed to appoint two officers—a retired district judge and an advocate—for assistance. The retired judicial officer will receive Rs 75,000 per month, and the advocate will be paid Rs 50,000 monthly.
The administrator himself will be compensated Rs 2 lakh per month, along with reimbursement of all expenses incurred in fulfilling his duties, sourced from the temple’s funds.
The apex court issued detailed directives to ensure smooth governance:
- The administrator is empowered to approach the trial court for any clarifications or directions.
- The existing administrative team, appointed by the Kerala High Court, must immediately hand over all accounts and responsibilities to the new administrator.
- The newly appointed administrator will manage temple affairs until elections are concluded and will then hand over charge to the elected body.
The matter traces back to a 2006 suit filed in the Kollam district court by devotees seeking a scheme for the administration of the temple. The temple’s management has since been governed by its bye-laws. However, disputes regarding administration escalated, leading to appeals that reached the Supreme Court.
The temple is distinctive for its lack of a consecrated idol, deity, or sanctum sanctorum, making it an exception among India’s temples.
The bench remarked on the “admitted fact” that the scheme-framing suit is still pending in the district court and urged its expeditious conclusion.
In light of the case’s complexity, the Supreme Court underscored the necessity of a fresh administrative head to oversee the process.
“It is just and necessary to conduct the election under the aegis of a new administrative head for the smooth and effective administration of the temple and its institutions,”
the bench stated.
The trial court has been instructed to complete proceedings for framing the scheme at the earliest. The matter will be revisited by the Supreme Court in four months to assess compliance.
The decision underscores the Supreme Court’s commitment to ensuring that the temple’s rich heritage is safeguarded while adhering to legal and administrative propriety.
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