Kerala High Court 
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala High Court, on Tuesday, took suo motu cognizance of reports that devotees at the Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple, Tripunithura were made to wash feet of 12 brahmins for the atonement of sins. The counsell of the temple authorities denied the claims and said that the head priest of the temple washed the feet of brahmins and not the devotees.
The Kerala High Court has asked the Cochin Devaswom Board to file an affidavit in the matter. The case has been posted for a further hearing on February 25.
According to a report in Bar and Bench, a bench of justices Anil K Narendra and PG Ajithkumar took note of the report which claimed that devotees at the Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple were made to perform the ritual as a part of the Panthrandu Namaskaram.
Priest, not devotees washing feet of brahmins: Counsel
In his response, the counsel of Cochin Devaswom Board, which manages the Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple said that it is not the devotees who are made to wash the feet of the brahmins, but the Thanti, the head priest, who washes the feet of 12 poojaris at the temple as a part of the Panthrandu Namaskaram.
According to the report, the counsel of the Cochin Devaswom Board sought two weeks from the High court to file an affidavit. The court has allowed the board two weeks to file the affidavit. Meanwhile, Devaswom minister K Radhakrishnan has also sought a report from the Cochin Devaswom Board over the incident.
In a statement, the minister’s office said – “The minister contacted CDB president V Nandakumar and directed to end primitive rituals that bring shame upon the progressive society of Kerala. Steps will be taken to end primitive rituals and practices in other Devaswom Boards also.”