KOCHI:The Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB) on Friday submitted before the Kerala High Court that its decision to shift the unused and unfit gold and other valuables from the Sree Poornathrayeesa temple, Tripunithura, to the central stock, Thrissur, would in no manner violate any custom of the temple.
In a counter affidavit, CDB secretary V Rajalakshmi stated that the Board did not intend to shift the ornaments and other valuables used regularly and during important festivals at the temple. The affidavit was filed in response to a petition filed by social activists and Bharatheeya Vichara Kendra former vice-president of T G Mohandas, seeking a directive to the Cochin Devaswom Board not to transfer the gold and other valuables. The petitioner also sought a directive to ensure adequate security to the temple and its valuables, in the event that the present security arrangements are inadequate.
The Board stated that on verification it had noticed that owing to passage of time and various other reasons certain gold ornaments and other valuables had got damaged and had become unfit to use.
“The Board decided to shift the valuables as it is a usual practice to shift ornaments and valuables to the central stock of the Board at Thrissur,” it stated.
After the theft at the Kodungallur Sree Bhagavathy Temple, the Board had decided to shift the gold and other valuables in the interest of all the temples under it. Considering the security aspect, such a decision cannot be termed as illegal. The Board also rejected the allegation that there was no stock of valuables in the temple.
Counter Affidavit
■ The Cochin Devaswom Board stated that it did not intend to shift the ornaments and other valuables used regularly and during important festivals at the Sree Poornathrayeesa temple