Malabar Devaswom Board orders eviction of convention centre from temple land

The Malabar Devaswom Board has initiated eviction proceedings against Club-6, a partnership firm managing a convention centre on 77.90 acres of temple land in Puthur, Palakkad. The board declared the 30-year lease signed in 2017 invalid, citing lack of prior authorization under Section 29 of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1951.

The board dismissed a request for retrospective approval of the lease, stating the required sanction must have been obtained before execution. The society's president failed to prove legal authority to lease the temple property, and the registration under the Societies Registration Act in 2022 did not grant trustee powers under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act.

The Commissioner questioned the proper handling of rent payments, noting a gap between the 2017 lease start date and the 2022 commencement of payments. Club-6 claimed financial investment in the convention centre but the Commissioner held that such investments could not validate the unauthorized lease or confer a legal right to retain possession of temple property.

The order resulted from a Kerala High Court writ petition and directs investigation into other temple property leases to remove encroachments if found.