The Kerala High Court on Friday disposed of petitions challenging a decision of the Koodalmanikyam Devaswom Committee to appoint a member of the Ezhava community as ‘Kazhakom’ staff at the Koodalmanikyam Temple at Irinjalakuda in Thrissur.

The court said that the disputed issues raised in the petitions were matters to be decided by a civil court and hence the parties were at liberty to approach the appropriate civil court for relief.

A Division Bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S. said that any appointment made to the post of Kazhakom at the temple would be subject to the decision of the civil court concerned.

The Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board (KDRB) had advised appointing K.S. Anurag of Cherthala from the rank list to the Kazhakom post. The Board issued the advice memo to Anurag after the resignation of V.A. Balu, a member of the Ezhava community, who was initially appointed to the post. His appointment was objected to by members of six Thanthri families associated with the temple, who contended that the Kazhakam post that was responsible for certain ritualistic duties, was a hereditary role and should be filled accordingly.

The court issued the order while disposing of petitions filed by members of a Varrier family, named Thekke Varriam, claiming hereditary Kazhakom rights at the temple. They argued that the Kazhakom at the Koodalmanikyam Temple was a hereditary post. Being the hereditary right holders, they had the right to perform the duties, they said.