Kerala HC opposes using 'Kodathi Vilakku' term for Guruvayur temple ritual
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Issuing a memorandum to the judicial officers in Thrissur district, the Kerala High Court on November 1 objected to using the term " Kodathi Vilakku" meaning court lamp for a ritual in Guruvayur temple.
The memorandum, issued on the instruction of Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar, however said there was nothing wrong in the Chavakkad Munsiff Court Bar Association organizing the event, The News Minute reports.
The court however is against the name Kodathi Vilakku as it gives the impression that courts in the state are connected with it.
The lighting up ritual called ' Kodathi Vilakku' has been held as part of the Guruvayur Ekadeshi at the temple by the lawyers association in which even High Court judges participated in the past, according to the report.
It was with the support of former Chavakkad Munsif court judge Abdulla that 'Kodathi Vilakku' started, before nearly ceased to observe over a few years later. According to the report a senior judge of the High Court Devaswom bench restarted the event.
Now the High Court made it clear in the memorandum that as secular democratic institutions under the Constitution, "courts cannot be seen engaging in activities that promote any particular religion".