Kerala High Court Bans Weapons Training, Drills By RSS In Sarkara Devi Temple

The court ordered the police to give the required support to ensure that an earlier Travancore Devaswom Board order prohibiting RSS "shakhas" at the shrines overseen by them is strictly followed.

The court gave the direction while disposing of a petition by two devotees seeking an order to prevent "illegal use" of temple premises by RSS and its members.

The Kerala High Court on Monday ruled that no mass drill or weapons training should be permitted at the premises of Sarkara Devi Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. The court gave the direction while disposing of a petition by two devotees seeking an order to prevent "illegal use" of temple premises by RSS and its members. The Sarkara Devi Temple comes under the management of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). 

The court ordered the police to give the required support to ensure that an earlier TDB order prohibiting RSS "shakhas" (branches) and mass drills at the shrines that the board oversees is strictly followed.

While hearing a petition challenging the training of RSS at Sarkara Devi Temple, the Kerala High Court bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and P G Ajithkumar observed, "Travancore Devaswom Board has to manage the properties and affairs of Sarkara Devi Temple and arrange for the conduct of the daily worship and ceremonies and of the festivals in the said temple according to the usage."

Kerala High Court, while hearing a petition challenging the training of RSS at Sarkara Devi Temple, observes, "Travancore Devaswom Board has to manage the properties and affairs of Sarkara Devi Temple and arrange for the conduct of the daily worship and ceremonies and of the… pic.twitter.com/LqHrOb1b7a

— ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2023

"The Temple Advisory Committee of Sree Sarkara Devi Temple, which consists of devotees who fall under the eligibility criteria prescribed in Clause (3) of the Rules framed under sub-section (3) of Section 31A of the Act, shall render necessary assistance to the Board and its officials for the smooth functioning of the temple activities and festivals according to the usage," it said.

Further, the court said, the temple premises of Sree Sarkara Devi Temple cannot be used for conducting mass drill or weaponry training by the devotees or a group of persons.

Union Minister V Muraleedharan said, "RSS is not involved in any weapon training... I don't know from where this court verdict came. I have to get details."

#WATCH | Union Minister V Muraleedharan says, "RSS is not involved in any weapon training... I don't know from where this court verdict came. I have to get details." https://t.co/KruKB0jfWy pic.twitter.com/3EtOtUrP5h

— ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2023