Temples are more than places of worship for Hindus; they are a source of inspiration, knowledge, and cultural continuity for millennia. Sensing this, the anti-Bharat forces, particularly the Communists in Kerala, continue to attack this system under one pretext or another. With control over the Devaswom Boards, the Communists permitted their programmes on temple premises, thereby normalising them as generic activities.
As matters crossed the line, the Kerala High Court has now issued instructions to protect the interests of devotees, ordering the Devaswom Boards to ensure that temples and temple premises are not misused for the propaganda of any political party. Instructions have been given to the Travancore, Cochin, and Malabar Devaswom Boards in this regard.
The order was passed by the Devaswom Bench of the High Court, comprising Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K.V. Jayakumar, in connection with a petition filed by N. Prakash from Maradu, Kochi.
The order states that the Devaswom Boards must ensure that the rules, sections, and clauses of the Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988, which prohibit the misuse of religious institutions, are strictly adhered to. If not, strict action must be taken. The High Court also instructed the Devaswom Boards to issue guidelines to the temples in this regard.
The petition was filed in the wake of pro-Communist songs sung by singer Aloshi Adam during his orchestra programmes at the Kadakkal Devi Temple in Kollam and the Shree Indrilayappan Temple in Attingal, Thiruvananthapuram, in March 2025. Moreover, the Communist play Ningalenne Communisttaakki (You Made Me a Communist) by the Kerala People’s Arts Club (KPAC), the cultural wing of the undivided Communist Party of India (CPI) and currently controlled by the CPI was staged in the Attingal Temple.
Another condemnable incident was reported from Kozhikode, where SFI members shouted “Inquilab Zindabad” during a wedding ceremony at the ancient Tali Temple.
The Devaswom Boards, however, claimed they face practical difficulties in controlling programmes other than temple rituals. But the High Court made it clear that Section 3 of the Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988, expressly bans the misuse of temples and temple premises for political propaganda.
It must be remembered that a case was registered against singer Aloshi Adams and members of the Kadakkal Temple Advisory Committee for singing “revolutionary songs” in effect, Communist songs glorifying the CPI(M) during a temple festival on March 10, 2025. Reports at the time suggested the police had disclosed this, naming Aloshi as the prime accused, with two or three members of the temple advisory committee as co-accused.
According to the police, Aloshi was named as the first accused, while two or more members of the temple advisory committee were also charged. The FIR, filed by the Kadakkal Police, invoked Sections 3, 5, 6, and 7 of the Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act.
However, singer Aloshi Adams stated at the time that he was merely responding to the audience’s requests and that there was no need to create a controversy.
One thing is certain: the CPM and the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) it leads are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to demolish temple culture and Sanatana Dharma.
