Supreme Court stays Kerala HC decision quashing KDRB’s power of appointment in Guruvayur Devaswom

The Supreme Court of India on Thursday (January 29, 2026) stayed a decision of the Kerala High Court striking down provisions that empowered the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board (KDRB) to appoint candidates to various posts in the Guruvayur Devaswom and assist educational institutions.

Read | HC cancels powers of Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board to make Guruvayur Devaswom appointments

A bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath heard the appeal filed by KDRB, represented by senior advocate V. Giri and advocate Deepak Prakash. The court set the next hearing for February 23, 2026.

The KDRB has sought a stay of the Supreme Court’s ruling, arguing that its functions were limited to recruitment matters and did not intervene in religious duties related to temples.

The Supreme Court had directed that proceedings relating to the appointment or selection of candidates for posts should be conducted in accordance with the Guruvayoor Devaswom Act, 1978. The Supreme Court’s direction was based on an appeal filed by the Guruvayur Devaswom Employees Union Congress and others, challenging the relevant provisions of the KDRB Act.

The court had quashed the KDRB notification calling for applications for various posts and added that KDRB should not conduct selection processes for appointments to these posts in future. Appointments already made by the board remain unaffected.

Also read | KDRB moves SC against HC’s annulment of its power of appointment in Guruvayur Devaswom

Moreover, the Guruvayur Devaswom executive committee was directed to restart the appointment process while a special committee would supervise and monitor the entire process. The committee headed by retired Kerala High Court judge Justice PN Ravindran would have a term of one year.