Kerala High Court bans videography by vloggers at Guruvayur Temple; issues notice to Muslim woman who cut birthday cake

Kerala HC puts brakes on vloggers at Guruvayur Temple

The Kerala High Court recently directed the Guruvayur Devaswom Board and its administrator to not permit videography in the nadapanthal (front area) of the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple, except for weddings and other religious ceremonies. Justice Anil K Narendran and Justice PG Ajithkumar passed the interim order on a petition alleging that some videos showed a Muslim woman cutting a birthday cake and quarreling with devotees at the nadapanthal of the temple.

“We deem it appropriate to direct the Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee and the Administrator to take necessary steps to ensure that videography other than that in connection with marriage functions and other religious ceremonies are not permitted in the nadapanthal of Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple. The videography by vloggers, by following celebrities, shall not be permitted in the nadapanthal,” the Court ordered, adding that the temple is a ‘Special Security Zone’ under the Kerala Police Act.

The Bench directed the Managing Committee to ensure that no activity, including unauthorized filming, disturbs devotees. The videography of the interior places of the temple, especially through the eastern ‘Deepastambham’ cannot be permitted, it added.

The Court also notified the woman (Jasna Salim) who was seen cutting a birthday cake. Jasna Salim created controversy after posting vlogs and reels in front of the temple. She landed in traditional Islamic attire – hijab – at the temple premises was boasting about her drawings of Lord Krishna, engaged quarrels with other devotees. She got attention after giving Lord Krishna picture to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2024. Modi came to temple to attend the wedding of Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi.

Though she claims she made the picture of Lord Krishna, many say it was just tracing the picture and she made the Guruvayur Temple area as a selling point. Later people came to about her antecedents of filing a series of fake rape and sexual abuse complaints. The Police records and court records from her home town Kozhikode district show that she had filed many fake rape, and sexual abuse complaints. The first complaint was filed in 2006 when she was at the age of 14 and later she withdrew many complaints by changing her statements in court. Many accuse her was engaging in blackmailing and honey-trapping. Many also accuse, certain Islamic Organisations like PFI support her to denigrate Guruvayur Temple and its customs.

In 2020, a district court has termed her as an untrustworthy person in a fake rape case filed by her. Somehow, she managed to come in close contact with some BJP and RSS leaders by giving her a drawing of Lord Krishna. Only Hindus can enter into Guruvayur Temple. But Jasna Saleem managed to enter into the front area of the temple and do her vlogs claiming her devotion to Krishna in Islamic attire and chanting Insha Allah in her vlogs.

The High Court further said that it was for the temple managing committee to ensure that no activity causes any disturbance to the devotees including children of tender age, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. “If found necessary, the additional 5th respondent Administrator shall seek police assistance, by making a written request before the 3rd respondent Station House Officer, in which event, the police shall render necessary assistance,” said the Court.

The Court passed the order on a petition filed by two devotees of the temple seeking orders to initiate action against a woman for allegedly violating the provisions of the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorization of Entry) Act of 1965 and the corresponding Rules. They alleged that the woman, who has a significant social media presence, had recorded videos at the temple on various occasions and that some of the videos taken inside the nadapanthal of the temple showed her cutting a birthday cake and quarreling with the devotees. They cited the Guruvayur Devaswom Act of 1978 which mandates the temple’s managing committee to ensure that religious rites and ceremonies are performed in line with tradition and customs.

The case is scheduled to be taken up next on October 18. The petitioners were represented by advocates R Krishna Raj, R Pratheesh (Aranmula), ES Soni, Sreeraja V, and Laxmi Priyaa N.

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