KOCHI: The High Court on Wednesday directed the managing committee of the Guruvayur Devaswom to consider adopting a more appropriate name in place of ‘Kodathi Vilakku’ at the Guruvayur temple. The court instructed the committee to issue notices to all affected parties, provide them an opportunity to be heard, and take a decision within three months.
A division bench observed that the name ‘Kodathi Vilakku’ may create the impression of an institutional association or endorsement by the judiciary in relation to an event connected with a particular religious tradition. In the interest of maintaining the perception of institutional neutrality, the court said it would be appropriate to consider adopting a more suitable name.
The court noted that the ‘Vilakku’ is organised by advocates practising at the Chavakkad courts, though contributions are also received from judicial officers.
“Having carefully considered the materials on record and the submissions, we find no justification to prohibit the conduct of the Vilakku or similar events. There is no material to indicate that the event is conducted in a manner inconsistent with constitutional or institutional principles, or that any judicial officer is required or compelled to participate in the programme,” the Division Bench observed.
The order was passed in a case initiated suo motu on the basis of a complaint against the conduct of ‘Kodathi Vilakku’ and similar practices at the temple. As per the complaint, despite the alleged ban on ‘Kodathi Vilakku’ in 2022, the practice continues at the temple. The complainant also sought a ban on ‘Kodathi Vilakku’, ‘Police Vilakku’, ‘Postal Vilakku’, ‘SBI Vilakku’, ‘Canara Bank Vilakku’, and ‘Dhanalakshmi Vilakku’.
The Guruvayur Devaswom managing committee submitted that, during the ‘Ekadashi’ festival, 18 ‘Chuttuvilakku’ ceremonies are conducted at the temple before Ekadashi. One such ‘Vilakku’ was traditionally organised by advocates practising before the Munsiff Court, Chavakkad, while another, known as ‘Magistrate Vilakku’, was held by advocates practising before the Second Class Magistrate Court.
However, owing to the small number of advocates practising at the Chavakkad courts, organising both events became difficult. Consequently, the ‘Magistrate Vilakku’ was surrendered to the Guruvayur Devaswom and is now conducted by the Kerala Police as ‘Police Vilakku’.
The devaswom also said that employees belonging to minority religions in government departments, banks, postal department, and other institutions now participate in the ‘Ekadashi Chuttuvilakku’ with great interest and devotion. A Court Vilakku Committee was constituted to organise the ‘Kodathi Vilakku’, and funds were collected from members of the legal fraternity for the conduct of the ‘Ekadashi Vilakku’. The Devaswom also said that it is willing to change the address or designation mentioned in the offering records if the offerers concerned request such a change.
