The Court affirms the necessity to balance operational costs and affordability in pricing religious offerings.

K. V. Jayakumar, J.

This DBP pertains to the revision of rates of aravana vazhipadu at Achankovil, Aryankavu, Kulathupuzha, Erumely, Pandalam Valiyakoikkal & Nilakkal under the Travancore Devaswom Board. This DBP has been registered based on Report No. 68 of 2025 submitted by the learned Ombudsman, pursuant to the filing of Petition No. 08 of 2025 by the Travancore Devaswom Board through its Secretary.

2. Sri. Santhosh Kumar, the learned Standing Counsel for the Travancore Devaswom Board submitted that the hike of the price of the aravana prasadam in the aforesaid temples was revised in the year 2021. Thereafter, during the year 2022, the department had supplied aravana seaming machine to the said Devaswom expending huge amounts. It is also pointed out that there is substantial price hike in the raw materials required for making the aravana prasadam and it is imperative to increase the price of aravana prasadam from Rs.65/- to Rs.85/- for 250 gms.

3. Sri.Rajmohan, the learned Senior Government Pleader submitted that providing prasadam in a temple cannot be treated at par with business activity of making profits. A balance must be struck between the capacity of the devotees to pay for the prasadam and also the probable loss that is likely to be caused if the rate is not increased.

4. We have carefully considered the submissions of the learned counsels and perused the records.

5. The Department of Economics and Statistics has submitted a report showing the rates of the raw materials required for the making of aravana prasadam during the first three months of 2021 and the price of raw materials during the year 2025. On a perusal of the said report, it is seen that the price of raw materials increased substantially during the last four years.

6. The learned Ombudsman after considering the facts and circumstances opined that the existing rate of Rs.65/- can be enhanced to Rs.80/-.

7. The learned counsel appearing for Travancore Devaswom Board, Sri. Santhosh Kumar, submitted that if the aravana prasadam is sold at the rate suggested by the Ombudsman, the respective Devaswom Board would incurred huge loss considering the substantial hike in the price of raw materials and the expenses incurred by the Travancore Devaswom Board for the supply of aravana seaming machines.

8. Having considered the submission of the counsels and on perusal of records, we deem it just and proper to enhance the price of aravana prasadam from Rs.65/- to Rs.85/- at Achankovil, Aryankavu, Kulathupuzha, Erumely, Pandalam Valiyakoikkal & Nilakkal under the Travancore Devaswom Board.

In the result, this DBP is disposed of by granting permission to the Travancore Devaswom Board to revise the rates of aravana vazhipadu at Achankovil, Aryankavu, Kulathupuzha, Erumely, Pandalam Valiyakoikkal, and Nilakkal from Rs.65/- to Rs.85/-.