Kerala High Court Orders Vigilance Probe into Gold Weight of Sabarimala Idols

The Kerala High Court has ordered a vigilance investigation into the reported reduction in the weight of gold-plated copper plates adorning the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols at the Sabarimala temple. The order came after discrepancies were found in the records maintained by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which administers the shrine.

Bench’s Directions

A division bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar directed the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer (Superintendent of Police) to undertake a comprehensive probe into the matter. The officer has been instructed to submit a detailed and reasoned report within three weeks.

The Court also directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to extend full cooperation in the investigation.

Weight Discrepancy in Gold-Plated Plates

According to temple records, the gold-plated copper sheets of the Dwarapalaka idols weighed 42.8 kilograms when they were last removed in 2019 for re-plating. However, when the same sheets were produced before the company tasked with carrying out the gold-plating recently, their weight had reduced to 38.258 kilograms.

The Court observed that this discrepancy was never reported by TDB officials who were present when the plates were handed over for re-plating.

Court’s Remarks on Irregularities

The bench strongly criticized the lapses, calling them “irregularities of the gravest order.” It further emphasized that the conduct of the TDB in not reporting the reduction in weight was unacceptable, especially given the sanctity of temple administration and the trust placed in it by devotees.

Background of the Case

The matter came before the Court through a suo motu petition initiated by the High Court. The issue arose after it was discovered that the gold-plated copper sheets of the Dwarapalaka idols, located in front of the Sabarimala sanctum sanctorum, had been removed without prior intimation to the shrine’s special commissioner.

Earlier, the High Court had directed the TDB to bring back the gold-plated sheets from Chennai, where they had been sent for gold-plating.

Next Steps

The vigilance probe will determine:

  • The cause of the weight reduction.

  • Whether any malpractice or misappropriation was involved.

  • The accountability of the officials who failed to report the discrepancy.

The Court has made it clear that the matter will be closely monitored, given its seriousness and the religious sensitivity surrounding the Sabarimala temple.

Conclusion

The Kerala High Court’s intervention underscores the need for strict vigilance and accountability in the management of temple assets. The outcome of the probe is expected to have significant implications not only for the TDB but also for the overall trust of devotees in temple administration practices.


Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India

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