KOCHI: The high court has asked the Kochi Devaswom Board and Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady devaswoms to file counter affidavits in the petitions seeking an inquiry and disciplinary action against Thrissur city police commissioner Ankit Ashokan for allegedly disrupting the rituals and traditions of Thrissur Pooram.
The bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and Harisankar V Menon posted the petitions filed by BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan and P Sudhakaran, a native of Thrissur, for June 10. The petitioners alleged that Ashokan deliberately obstructed the main procession from the Thiruvambady temple, 'Madathil Varavu', and other rituals by using excessive force and imposing illegal restrictions.
They claimed that he disrupted centuries-old traditions and customs of the temple by halting the idol-bearing elephant procession, assaulting the lamp bearer of the procession, and denying entry to the chief priest of the Vadakkumnathan temple. The petitioners also sought a directive to the state govt to establish guidelines governing police conduct during religious festivals and temple ceremonies.