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Orders Vigilance Investigation Into Irregularities In Sabarimala Temple Ghee Procurement
In a decisive move to uphold the sanctity and financial integrity of the Sabarimala temple, a of the , comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K. V. Jayakumar, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the procurement of ghee for the Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season. The court has directed the to register a crime and initiate a meticulous probe into allegations of and the supply of substandard products.
The Procurement Controversy
The dispute centers on the decision by the to bypass an established e-tender process. While the e-tender attracted competitive bids as low as ₹369 per litre, the Board opted to procure 1,61,535 litres of ghee from the state-run dairy cooperative, , at an significantly higher price of ₹510 per litre. Executive Officer Murari Babu justified the premium, claiming superior quality would reduce consumption, but the Devaswom Commissioner formally objected, noting the absence of empirical evidence for these efficiency claims. The reversal of the tender process resulted in an estimated financial loss of approximately ₹2.27 crore to the TDB.
Grave Allegations and Procedural Lapses
The report submitted by the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer uncovered alarming discrepancies. Beyond the inflated costs, the report questioned whether the full quantity of 1,61,535 litres reached the temple. Furthermore, it identified that had procured 24,970 kilograms of ghee from an outside source—Sonai Co-operative Dairy in Pune—immediately after securing the Board's contract, casting doubt on the quality and origin of the supplies. The court expressed deep concern over the lack of independent quality testing by the at the time of delivery, noting that records were marked by inconsistent batch numbering.
Key Observations
The High Court underscored the severity of these findings in its order:
"The report indicates that the decision to abandon the e-tender process and procure ghee from at a substantially higher price was taken despite specific objections raised by the Commissioner."
" , the materials collected during the indicate the possibility of a coordinated course of action involving certain members of the Board and officials, resulting in substantial financial loss to the Travancore Devaswom Board."
"The report further raises a serious apprehension that payments may have been released even in respect of quantities of ghee that may not have actually been supplied."
Judicial Intervention and Future Outlook
To ensure an impartial investigation, the High Court has appointed a team headed by Superintendent of Police M.J. Sojan of the . The court clarified that, given the gravity of the allegations, prior approval under , is not a prerequisite for this investigation. The team has been instructed to maintain strict confidentiality, refrain from public disclosure, and submit a progress report within one month. As the probe widens to encompass broader procurement practices at the temple’s Main Store between and , this intervention signals a rigorous new phase of oversight for the management of the shrine’s resources. The matter is set for further consideration on .
