Kerala High Court bans videography by vloggers at Guruvayur Temple; issues notice to woman who cut birthday cake

The Kerala High Court recently directed the Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee and its administrator to not permit videography in the nadapanthal of the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple, except for weddings and other religious ceremonies. [PP Venugopal & Anr. v State of Kerala & Ors.].Justice Anil K Narendran and Justice PG Ajithkumar passed the order on a petition alleging that some videos showed a woman cutting a birthday cake and quarrelling with devotees at the nadapanthal of the temple. The Court highlighted that the temple is a 'Special Security Zone' under the Kerala Police Act.It directed the Managing Committee to ensure that no activity, including unauthorised filming, disturbs devotees.“We deem it appropriate to direct the Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee and the Administrator to take necessary steps to ensure that videography other than that in connection with marriage functions and other religious ceremonies are not permitted in the Nadapanthal of Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple. The videography by vloggers, by following celebrities, shall not be permitted in the Nadapanthal,” the Court ordered.The videography of the interior places of the temple, especially through the eastern ‘Deepastambham’ cannot be permitted, it added.The Court also issued notice to the woman who was seen cutting a birthday cake. .The Court further said that it was for the temple managing committee to ensure that no activity causes any disturbance to the devotees including children of tender age, senior citizens and persons with disabilities,Besides asking the authorities to use security wing of Guruvayur Devaswom for the purpose, the Court also said the administration can seek police assistance."If found necessary, the additional 5th respondent Administrator shall seek police assistance, by making a written request before the 3rd respondent Station House Officer, in which event, the police shall render necessary assistance.".The Court passed the order on a petition filed by two devotees of the temple seeking orders to initiate action against a woman for allegedly violating the provisions of the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Act of 1965 and the corresponding Rules. They alleged that the woman, who has a significant social media presence, had recorded videos at the temple on various occasions and that some of the videos taken inside the nadapanthal of the temple showed her cutting a birthday cake and quarrelling with the devotees.They cited the Guruvayur Devaswom Act of 1978 which mandates the temple’s managing committee to ensure that religious rites and ceremonies are performed in line with tradition and customs. .While considering the petition, the Court observed that the Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee was legally bound to administer the temple and its properties with “utmost care and caution” and to ensure that no individual disrupts the rights of worshippers within the temple, especially in the nadapanthal. The Court further said that every devotee has the right to worship in an “accustomed manner,” adhering to the temple’s traditions and practices and that the managing committee has to provide adequate facilities for the same..The Court also took exception to the woman's actions in the video saying,"No person can be permitted to pick up a quarrel with the devotees in the Nadapanthal, as seen from Ext.P5 video. Similarly, the Nadapanthal of a temple is not a place for cutting birthday cake"The Court, therefore, issued notice to the woman. The matter is scheduled to be taken up next on October 18..The petitioners were represented by advocates R Krishna Raj, R Pratheesh (Aranmula), ES Soni, Sreeraja V and Laxmi Priyaa N..[Read Order]