A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Monday slammed the temple advisory committee of the Kadakkal Devi temple in Kollam for allowing the festival committee to collect money from devotees for the conduct of the temple festival.

The Bench made the observation when a writ petition seeking action against the advisory committee for allowing revolutionary songs to be sung at a music concert organised in connection with the temple festival in March.

The court said there was a clear case of collecting money from the devotees by persons not part of the temple advisory committee. The court asked why they were allowed to collect money. “What is their authorisation? It is a criminal offence.” It was submitted before the court that the festival committee was responsible for conducting the festival.

The court noted that the singer was brought to the temple premises by the committee. The court also asked whether any case had been registered against the singer.