Kerala High Court Scrutinizes Sabarimala Idol Repairs, Citing Apex Court's Mandate to Protect Temple Properties - 2025-09-12

Kerala High Court Intervenes in Sabarimala Idol Repair, Orders Seizure of Records Amid Suspicions

Ernakulam, Kerala - The Kerala High Court has stepped in to scrutinize the repair of gold-plated idols at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam, ordering an immediate halt to the work and the seizure of all related documents. A Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K. V. Jayakumar , taking up the matter suo motu , raised serious questions about procedural lapses, conflicting statements, and the handling of temple property by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).

Case Overview: A Tale of Tarnished Gold and Troubling Questions

The issue came to light following a report from the Special Commissioner regarding the removal of gold-plated copper coverings from the "Dwarapalaka Idols" (guardian deities) at the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum). The TDB had sent the items to a Chennai-based firm, "Smart Creations," for repair after the gold plating, which came with a 40-year warranty, showed defects in just six years.

The entire process, including the re-plating, was sponsored by an individual named Mr. Unnikrishnan Potty. Crucially, the TDB admitted in an affidavit that it failed to inform the Special Commissioner before detaching and transporting the sacred coverings, offering an "unconditional apology" for the oversight.

Court's Findings: Contradictions and Procedural Breaches

Upon examining the case files, the High Court uncovered a series of "loose ends" and contradictions that prompted its decisive intervention.

• Conflicting Expert Advice: The court noted a communication from the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner, dated July 30, 2025, which initially recommended that the repair work be done using traditional methods at the Sannidhanam itself. The Commissioner had estimated that 303 grams of gold (worth approximately ₹31 lakhs) would be required and stated that the Chennai firm lacked the expertise to remove the existing gold coat. However, merely nine days later, on August 8, 2025, the same Commissioner reversed his stance after "discussions with the sponsor" and recommended sending the items to Chennai for electroplating.

• Violation of Devaswom Manual: The Bench pointed out that the decision to transport the idols for repair seemingly ignored the mandate in the Travancore Devaswom Board Sub Group Manual, which "insists that such repair works... are to be carried out in the Sannidhanam itself."

• The Mystery of the "Former Idols": A perplexing email from the sponsor, Mr. Potty, came under the court's scanner. In the email, he proposed to "minimise the total expenditure" by extracting gold from a "former pair of gold coated, similar dwarapalakar idols which are kept idly in the strong room." The court observed with concern, "None of these aspects are borne out from the affidavit filed by the respondents before us."

Citing Supreme Court Precedent on Protecting Temple Property

Invoking a landmark Supreme Court judgment, the Bench reiterated its duty to safeguard religious properties. The order quoted the Apex Court's decision in A.A Gopalakrishnan v. Cochin Devaswom Board And Others (2007) :

"The properties of deities, temples and Devaswom Boards, require to be protected and safeguarded by their trustees/archakas/shebaits/employees... It is also the duty of courts to protect and safeguard the properties of religious and charitable institutions from wrongful claims or misappropriation."

The Court's Directives and Final Order

Finding the entire transaction "replete with unanswered questions," the High Court issued a series of stringent directives:

• Seizure of Records: The Chief Superintendent of Police (Vigilance) was ordered to immediately seize all records related to the gold-plating of the Dwarapalakas and associated items from the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner's office, including files concerning the mysterious "other set" of idols in the strong room.
• Impleading Key Parties: The court suo motu impleaded the sponsor, Mr. Unnikrishnan Potty , and the repair firm, Smart Creations , as additional respondents to ensure their presence and obtain full clarity on the matter.
• Halt on Repairs: The interim order to stop all repair work and return the idols to the Sannidhanam was upheld, despite a plea from the TDB to allow the completion of the work citing the risk of transporting gold in liquid form.
• Demand for Financial Records: Mr. Potty has been directed to produce records of the amounts spent by him on sponsorships and his IT records before the court.

The court has mandated that the seized records be placed before it immediately, signaling its intent to conduct a thorough investigation into the management and protection of one of the most revered shrines' sacred assets.