Overview
- A bench of Justices J. K. Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi directed the Devaswom and the Thantri to conduct the day‑long rite on December 1, 2025, strictly as per the temple’s traditions.
- The Court allowed the temple to also perform the ceremony on an alternate date, such as November 2, in addition to the mandatory Ekadasi observance.
- The judges said potential public inconvenience or crowd management concerns cannot justify changing a ritual that has been performed on Ekadasi since long.
- The Kerala High Court had earlier upheld the administration’s decision to alter the schedule, and the Supreme Court has posted the broader appeal for hearing in March 2026.
- Temple managers, with the Thantri’s support, sought to shift the ritual to ease crowds, a move challenged by hereditary priests led by P. C. Hary who cited the Panchangam placing Vrishchikam Ekadasi on December 1.