Kerala High Court directs Cochin Devaswom Board not to deploy security in 'Bouncer' T-shirts

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday instructed the Cochin Devaswom Board to refrain from employing individuals wearing inappropriate attire, including t-shirts labelled ‘bouncer’, as security personnel during temple festivals or within temple premises.

The bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar issued the order following a plea by Kochi resident N Prakash. He informed the court that personnel wearing 'bouncer' t-shirts had been deployed as security at the Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple in Thrippunithura from November 22 to 25.

Prakash argued that assigning such "strong-arm security personnel" within the sacred precincts of a temple to manage devotees was “wholly inappropriate and fundamentally incompatible with the sanctity, decorum, and cultural ethos the temple environment demands.”

The board’s counsel explained that ex-servicemen were initially engaged for security, but due to the large and unmanageable crowds, they were unable to control devotees effectively. Consequently, a private security agency was hired. The lawyer acknowledged that it was “unfortunate” that some personnel wore ‘bouncer’ t-shirts and assured the court that such an incident would not recur, and proper decorum would be maintained in future temple arrangements.

The bench said, “We record the submissions of the Board’s standing counsel and direct the respondents, the Board and the temple’s Devaswom Officer, to exercise due caution henceforth and refrain from engaging personnel wearing inappropriate attire, including t-shirts with the word ‘bouncer’, for security during temple festivals or within temple precincts.” With this directive, the court disposed of the plea.