“Temple money, first of all, belongs to the deity…It can't become a source of income or survival for a cooperative bank,” says the Supreme Court

Today (December 05, 2025), the two-judge bench of the Supreme Court (SC) of India was hearing the petitions filed by some cooperative banks in Kerala. The petitions challenged the directions issued by the Kerala High Court (HC) to return the deposits to the Thirunelly Temple Devaswom. While hearing the matter, the bench, constituting Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, asked what was wrong with the decision of the Kerala HC. 

CJI asked, “You want to use the temple money to save the bank? What is wrong with directing that the temple money, instead of being in a cooperative bank which is breathing with great difficulty, should go to a healthy nationalised bank which can give maximum interest?” CJI added, “Temple money, first of all, belongs to the deity. Therefore, this money has to be saved, protected, and utilised only for the interests of the temple. It can't become a source of income or survival for a cooperative bank.”

During the proceedings, Advocate Manu Krishnan G, who appeared for the petitioners (bank), said that the abrupt direction by the HC to return the deposits to the temple within 2 months was challenging. CJI opined, “You should establish your credibility among the people. If you are unable to attract the customers and deposits, that is your problem.” Lastly, the bench dismissed the petitions, stating that temple money belongs to the deity first and cannot be used to rescue the cooperative banks. The top court gave liberty to the petitioners to approach the HC to seek an extension of time for depositing the money.