Cases against six temples for placing arches on road

T'puram: Poojappura police registered cases against six temples for placing arches across the roads as part of temple festivals. Police have warned temple committees against placing arches on roads and informed them that more cases will be registered if arches blocking public ways are found.
The cases were registered against the temple committee presidents, secretaries and other members of Thrivikramangalam Maha Vishnu Temple, Arayalloor Devi Temple, Kavil Sree Bhagavathy Temple, Kundamanbhagam Devi Temple and others. The arch placed by Kundamanbhagam Devi Temple near Valiyavila Junction fell on the road after being hit by a tipper truck on Tuesday, leading to a traffic snarl for hours. Locals took a photograph of this and shared it with city police commissioner Thomson Jose.
Following this, Jose directed that a case be registered against temple committee members based on a high court order that bars placing such arches or stages on public roads, causing inconvenience to movement of people. Police were directed to book all temple committee members who placed such arches on public roads and cases were registered against more temples.
The cases were registered under BNS Sections 223 (a) for disobedience to orders promulgated by a public servant and 285 for danger or obstruction to a public way, section 118 (e) of the Kerala Police Act-2011 and section six of the Kerala Public Way Restriction of Assemblies and Procession Act.
"The cases were registered on the basis of high court order and will continue doing so in the coming days," said Poojappura police.
Meanwhile, the temple committee members are planning to meet the commissioner to find a solution to this. "We placed the arch safely without disturbing public movement, but it collapsed after being hit by a truck. Following this, cases have been registered against us. We will have to find a solution," said president of Kundamanbhagam Devi Temple committee M Sreekumar.