The Kerala High Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) over the poor condition of cattle housed in the gosala of the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple in Kottayam district, observing that the Board was giving “little priority” to their welfare and noting with concern that some cows had died of starvation.
A Division Bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar issued a series of directions for the proper maintenance and upkeep of the gosala and the cattle kept there.
The Bench recorded that photographs placed on record revealed “the sad plight of the poor animals, who were donated by devotees to the temple with utmost respect to the deity through a ritual called ‘nadayiruthal’.”
It further observed:
“The Travancore Devaswom Board is giving little priority to the welfare of these animals. It is shocking and disturbing that some cows died due to starvation, and there is nobody in the Devaswom to look after them.”
To address the deficiencies, the Court directed the TDB to:
- Designate an Administrative Officer of the Vaikom group exclusively for gosala management
- Carry out necessary repair works
- Provide separate feeding spaces for bulls and cows
- Ensure proper hygiene, drainage, and ventilation
- Arrange adequate food for the cattle
- Appoint a full-time cowherd for their care
- Open a separate bank account for protection and maintenance of gosalas under TDB control
The Court ordered that these directions be implemented within three months, warning that any lapse by the Board or the designated officer would be viewed seriously.
The Bench also permitted the Board to prepare a comprehensive master plan for establishing and maintaining gosalas in temples dedicated to Lord Siva, using its own funds, separate devotee contributions, and corporate sponsorships.
The matter arose from a plea filed by Kochi resident M. Muraleedharan, who alleged that two bulls and six cows were being kept in poor condition and sought urgent appointment of an experienced full-time cowherd.
During the hearing, the Assistant Devaswom Commissioner informed the Court that fodder charges had been increased from ₹150 to ₹250 per animal and that a decision on appointing a cowherd would be taken.
The Board also submitted that it planned to keep one bull symbolically at the Vaikom gosala and transfer the remaining cattle to the Kalikavu Bull Protection Centre at Ettumanoor, where repair and maintenance work would be completed within three months.
Disposing of the petition, the High Court directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to file a compliance report by May 25.
