Kerala High Court directs appointment of a retired district judge to assess Sabarimala temple gold and valuables, stressing that the time has reached for an accurate inventory of temple assets.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
KERALA: In a crucial development concerning the management of temple assets, the Kerala High Court has expressed the urgent need for a proper and accurate inventory of all valuables at the Sabarimala temple, suggesting that the process be overseen by a retired district judge.
Background of the Case
The matter came to light following allegations of loss of gold from the gold-plated copper coverings of the Dwarapalaka idols (door guardians) at the Sabarimala temple. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) had removed these coverings for repairs and entrusted them to a Chennai-based firm, Smart Creations, under the sponsorship of a devotee named Unnikrishnan Potti.
During the process, discrepancies were noted: items weighing 42.8 kg were handed over for repair, but only 38 kg were reportedly received by the firm. The difference of 4.54 kg raised serious concerns, prompting the Court to intervene and order a probe on September 17, 2025.
Court Observations
A Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar highlighted major gaps in the records maintained by the TDB. The Court observed:
“Time has reached, wherein a more accurate entry is to be made in respect of the valuables and other articles presented to the deity by the devotees. A retired district judge should be appointed, with the assistance of a valuer, to conduct a thorough appraisal of the items.”
The Court pointed out that the TDB registers lacked proper documentation, including entries in the Thiruvabharanam diary, inconsistencies in recording gold ornaments offered by devotees, and missing records on items sent for repair.
Court’s Findings
The Chief Vigilance Officer submitted a comprehensive report, revealing troubling details:
- Certain gold-plated pedhams were found concealed in the residence of Mini, the sister of Unnikrishnan Potti.
- These items had no corresponding entries in TDB records or mahazars, indicating a breach in protocol.
The Court emphasized that the investigation must continue in strict secrecy, ensuring no information leaks, even to Devaswom Board officers.
Proposed Action:
To address these discrepancies, the Court recommended:
- Appointment of a retired district judge to oversee inventory preparation.
- Assistance from a valuer to assess the quantity, quality, and value of all temple valuables.
- Ensuring complete and accurate records reflecting all assets in the temple’s strong room.
Additionally, the Court permitted the reinstallation of repaired gold-plated coverings on the Dwarapalaka idols, originally installed in 1999, replaced in 2019 with a 40-year warranty, but found defective within six years.
Appearance:
For the State: Senior government pleader S Rajmohan
For the Travancore Devaswom Board: Standing counsel G Biju
For the Sabarimala Special Commissioner: Advocate Sayujya Radhakrishnan (as an amicus curiae)
For Unnikrishnan Potti: Advocates R Sudhish and M Manju
Case Title:
Suo Motu v State of Kerala & ors
