Preamble

[Translation in English of “2005-ലലെ കകൂടല്‍മമാണണികകക്യം ദദേവസസക്യം ആകക" published under the authority of the Governor.]

ACT 2 OF 2007 THE KOODALMANICKAM DEVASWOM ACT, 2005 * An Act to provide for the proper administration of the Koodalmanickam Devaswom at Irrinjalakuda. Preamble.—WHEREAS, the Koodalmanickam Temple at Irrinjalakuda is an

ancient temple of unique importance having extensive properties and endowments;

AND WHEREAS, under the Proclamation issued by the Maharaja of Cochin on the 30th day of November, 1917 and the Scheme of Administration issued under that Proclamation, the administration, control and management of the Devaswom had been vested in the Thachudaya Kaimal;

AND WHEREAS, the administration and management by the Thachudaya Kaimal had deteriorated the Devaswom and a situation had arisen rendering it expedient to reorganise, the Scheme of Administration of the affairs of the Devaswom on the public interest;

AND WHEREAS, the Koodalmanickam Devaswom Act, 1971, was enacted to provide better management of the Devaswom in supersession of all previous laws and arrangements applicable thereto;

AND WHEREAS, Original Petition No. 2182 of 1986 was filed before the High Court of Kerala praying to declare the Koodalmanickam Devaswom Act, 1971, and the rules made thereunder as ultravires, void and illegal and to strike down the said Act and the rules in its entirety for the reason that the provisions of the said Act are substantially same as that of the Guruvayoor Devaswom Act, 1971;

AND WHEREAS, the operative portions of the Guruvayoor Devaswom Act, 1971 had been struck down by the High Court of Kerala in its judgment in Original Petition No. 314 of 1973 on the ground that those provisions are violative of article 25 and 26 of the Constitution of India;

Received the assent of the President on the 10th day of January, 2007 and published in the Kerala Extraordinary Gazette No. 1556 dated 23rd August, 2007.

AND WHEREAS, it is apprehended that the same situation which had rendered it expedient to enact the Koodalmanickam Devaswom Act, 1971, for the better administration, control and management of the Devaswom is likely to arise if the said Act is struck down by the Court;

AND WHEREAS, it is decided to enact a law, to provide, in the public interest and in the interest of the worshippers of the Temple, for the proper administration of the Devaswom on the line of the Guruvayoor Devaswom Act, 1978, in the light of the validity of the same was upheld by the High Court of Kerala in its judgment in O.P. No. 7592 of 1984;

BE it enacted in the Fifty-sixth year of the Republic of India as follows:—