The Kerala High Court has condemned the ongoing illegal sale of synthetic kumkum to Sabarimala devotees despite a strict ban. The Court identified a key distributor and issued notices as enforcement intensifies ahead of the next hearing.
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KERALA: The Kerala High Court has condemned the continued sale and distribution of synthetic kumkum to Sabarimala devotees, despite previously issued prohibitory orders. The Court reiterated that the sale of chemically manufactured kumkum is absolutely banned and cannot be permitted under any circumstances.
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During the recent hearing, a division bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar identified Ideal Enterprises as the primary distributor allegedly responsible for the widespread circulation of synthetic kumkum around Sabarimala. The Court issued a formal notice to the firm, directing it to respond before the next hearing scheduled for December 5.
The Court also summoned Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Ltd, a laboratory accused of providing certification to vendors who sold synthetic kumkum supplied by Ideal Enterprises. The bench sought clarification on the alleged role of the company in enabling the sale of chemically produced kumkum despite the explicit court ban.
The move comes after a report submitted by the Erumeli Grama Panchayat revealed that the sale of synthetic kumkum remains rampant in its jurisdiction. The report traced a distribution chain leading back to Ideal Enterprises, though the source of raw material remains unclear.
Court Reiterates Strict Ban
The bench remarked that sellers appear to be blatantly circumventing earlier court directives. The judges stressed that the ban is unequivocal and must be strictly enforced.
The Court referenced its earlier orders dated November 7 and November 12, which explicitly prohibit:
- Manufacturing synthetic or chemical kumkum
- Distributing synthetic kumkum
- Selling synthetic kumkum to devotees at Sannidhanam, Sabarimala, and neighboring panchayats
Authorities have previously raised concerns regarding the harmful chemical composition of synthetic kumkum, which may pose serious health risks such as skin irritation, allergies, and toxic exposure. The push for stricter control aims to protect devotees and maintain religious purity.
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