Kerala High Court Directs Cochin Devaswom Board to Uphold Temple Decorum

Deployment of "Bouncer" T-shirts During Temple Festival Deemed Inappropriate and Incompatible with Cultural Ethos

In a landmark decision, the Kerala High Court has directed the Cochin Devaswom Board to maintain the sanctity and decorum of temple environments following a writ petition filed by N. Prakash, an ardent devotee of the Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple. The petitioner challenged the engagement of security personnel wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the word "bouncer" during the temple festival from November 22 to November 25, 2025. 

The division bench, comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K. V. Jayakumar, found the practice fundamentally incompatible with the sanctity and cultural ethos of the temple environment. The court emphasized the need for maintaining decorum in all temple-related arrangements and prohibited the use of such attire in the future.

The Cochin Devaswom Board's counsel, Sri. K. P. Sudheer, conceded that the situation was unfortunate and resulted from a substantial number of resignations within the Temple Advisory Committee just days before the festival. He explained that the board had previously relied on ex-servicemen for security but was compelled to seek alternative measures due to overwhelming crowds. Sudheer assured the court that the board would prevent similar occurrences in the future.

The court, in its order, directed the board to exercise due caution and refrain from engaging personnel in inappropriate attire, thereby upholding the cultural sanctity of the temple. The writ petition was subsequently disposed of, marking a significant step in preserving the traditional values and ethos of temple environments.

Bottom Line:

Deployment of personnel wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the word "bouncer" for security purposes during temple festivals is incompatible with the sanctity, decorum, and cultural ethos of the temple environment.

Statutory provision(s):Temple Management.

N.Prakash v. Cochin Devaswom Board, (Kerala)(DB) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2817294