The Kerala High Court has ordered the Travancore Devaswom Board to submit full financial records and bank statements related to the 2025 Global Ayyappa Sangamam at Sabarimala. The Court has also directed the independent auditor to produce all primary documents amid concerns over irregularities.
The Kerala High Court has decided to directly step in and monitor the auditing process of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam organised by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) at Sabarimala in 2025. The Court took this strong step after its repeated directions to submit a complete and properly audited financial report were not complied with, raising serious concerns about transparency and financial discipline.
A Division Bench of Justice V Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K V Jayakumar, while hearing the matter on Monday, suo motu impleaded the independent audit firm M/s Vijayan and Associates, Thiruvananthapuram. The firm had earlier been appointed by the TDB to audit the accounts of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam.
ALSO READ: Kerala High Court Admits Plea Against Global Ayyappa Sangamam at Sabarimala’s Pamba
The High Court directed the audit firm to produce all primary and foundational documents that formed the basis of its audit report. These include bills, vouchers, cash books, ledgers, asset registers, expenditure statements, agreements with vendors, details of final payments made, and all other supporting documents related to the Global Ayyappa Sangamam. The Court ordered that these records must be placed on record on or before March 5.
In addition, the Court directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to submit the complete bank account statement of the account opened with Dhanlaxmi Bank in the name of the Devaswom Accounts Officer for the Global Conclave. The statement must cover the period from August 8, 2025 to February 2, 2026. The matter has now been posted for further hearing on March 5.
Earlier, during the previous hearing, the Court had asked the TDB and the State Audit Department to explain certain irregularities found in the audited accounts of the Sangamam, which was held on the banks of the Pamba River on September 20, 2025. However, instead of providing the explanation, the TDB filed an interlocutory application seeking an additional three weeks’ time to submit the details.
The High Court refused to grant further time. The Bench observed that even though the event lasted only one day, it had already granted more than three months to the TDB to place the financial statements on record. The Court expressed strong dissatisfaction with the delay and warned of serious consequences if the Board failed to provide reliable data.
The Court specifically observed that if the Board is unable to furnish credible and verifiable data regarding the funds expended and the specific purposes for which such expenditure was incurred, it would lead to the unsettling conclusion that the financial discipline of TDB and its officers is below par.
The High Court further noted that the TDB had already appointed an independent auditor and that the audit firm had submitted a report based on the receipts and payments account, both on a cash basis and on a cash-and-credit basis, for the period between August 8, 2025 and February 2, 2026. However, the Court cautioned that if incorrect or inflated payment details or unauthentic receipts were provided for audit, it would be a serious issue.
In this context, the Bench remarked that if incorrect or inflated payment particulars, or receipts lacking authenticity, had been furnished for audit, that in itself would be a matter of grave concern.
The Court also took note of the fact that despite repeated requests from the Kerala State Audit Department, the relevant accounts had not yet been furnished. This continued non-compliance further strengthened the Court’s decision to directly intervene in the auditing process.
With these observations and directions, the Kerala High Court has made it clear that it will closely monitor the financial transparency of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam and ensure accountability in the handling of public and temple funds. The matter will now be taken up again on March 5, when the audit firm and the TDB are expected to produce all the required records before the Court.
Click Here to Read More Reports on Ayyappa Sangamam
