New Delhi: The Kerala high court on Tuesday, June 20, issued a notice to members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for allegedly encroaching upon the premises of Sree Sarkara Devi Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, LiveLaw reported.According to the report, the RSS members were conducting mass drills and weaponry training inside the premises of the temple.A division bench comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice P.G. Ajithkumar has sought response of the state government and the Travancore Devaswom Board on the matter.The high court was hearing a plea filed by two devotees and nearby residents of the temple saying that the alleged action of the RSS members is causing agony and difficulty to the devotees and pilgrims visiting the temple, particularly the women and children.Also read: Photo Feature: When I Hear the Word Culture, I Reach for My Gun…The petitioners said that the RSS members allegedly conduct illegal activities in the temple without any authorisation from the concerned authorities. These include using tobacco products within the temple premises.They further said that the RSS members shout loud slogans as part of their mass drill/weaponry training, thereby disrupting the peaceful atmosphere of the temple.They have asked the court to ensure that the respondent authorities, or the RSS members, use the temple premises only for devotional purposes and to protect the right to worship.The case will be next heard on June 26.
