Kerala High Court orders Cochin Devaswom Board to act against fake temple websites

The Kerala High Court recently directed the Cochin Devaswom Board's Chief Vigilance Officer to actively monitor and act against fake websites and social media profiles that fraudulently collect online donations and pooja bookings in the name of temples [Devidas & ors v Cochin Devaswom Board & ors]..A Division Bench of Justice Anil K Narendran and Justice PV Balakrishnan passed the directive on a plea by devotees who highlighted the threat posed by fake Instagram accounts and other online platforms which fraudulently claimed to represent a temple.The Court observed that it was essential to protect devotees from such cyber frauds that misused faith for personal gain.It proceeded to direct the Cochin Devaswom Board to introduce an authenticated online pooja booking and donation system for all major temples under its administration. The Board was further ordered to promptly act against any online platform that fraudulently claimed to represent temples to exploit devotees. "The Vigilance Wing of the Cochin Devaswom Board, headed by the additional 14th respondent Chief Vigilance Officer, shall have a constant vigil against exploitation of the devotees with regard to online pooja booking, online donations, etc., through fake websites, Instagram accounts, etc., in the name of the respective temples. Persons behind such fake websites, Instagram accounts, etc., shall be proceeded against, in accordance with law, by submitting proper complaints before the Station House Officer of the concerned Police Station," the Court's ruling said. .Several devotees of the Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple in Thripunithura approached the Court seeking various reliefs, including tighter financial audits of temple accounts, better control over volunteers, and greater transparency in temple-related dealings.The petitioners had also flagged the issue of fake online profiles and platforms misusing the temple's name.The Cochin Devaswom Board, in response to the allegations, submitted that a fake Instagram account titled 'Sree Poornathrayeesa Kshethram' had already been identified and necessary steps were being taken.The Board further informed that major temples like the Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple, Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple, Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple, and Ernakulam Siva Temple provided legitimate online booking and donation options through their official websites.However, the petitioners pointed out that despite such official facilities, fake online platforms continued to deceive unsuspecting devotees.Taking note of the submissions made, the Court directed the Board to display details of official temple websites and social media handles within the temple premises to help devotees identify authentic sources."It is also ordered that the details regarding the official website and official Instagram account of the temples under the management of Cochin Devaswom Board shall be exhibited at prominent places in the respective temples, for the information of the devotees, so as to enable them to avail online facility," it said. .The Court added that Temple Advisory Committees or their members must not collect money through unofficial websites or social media platforms. It emphasised that offerings made in the name of the temple belong to the deity, who is legally treated as a perpetual minor. The Court said that funds collected from temple devotees should always be under the formal management of the Devaswom Board and credited temporarily to the Devaswom fund, especially when collected for festivals, repairs, or construction activities.The Court has instructed that the ongoing inquiry initiated by the Cochin Devaswom Board into the fake temple account must be completed within three months, after hearing the petitioners, additional respondents, and members of the former Temple Advisory Committee against whom certain allegations were made."We deem it appropriate to dispose of this writ petition by directing the 1st respondent Cochin Devaswom Board to take necessary steps to ensure that there is no exploitation of the devotees of the temples under its management with regard to online pooja booking, online donations, etc., through fake websites, Instagram accounts, etc.," the Court added..The petitioners (temple devotees) were represented by advocates T Sanjay, Sanil Kumar G, Ardhra Krishna, and Sreekanth G Menon.Advocates KP Sudheer, Dinesh R Shenoy, Suvin R Menon, Joy Thattil Ittoop. Bijish B Tom, Jacob Tomlin Varghese, Baby Sonia, Uthara AS, Nevis Cassandra L Caxton Loretta, Krishna Kumar TK, Karun Mahesh, and KS Arun Kumar appeared for various respondents. .[Read Judgement]