A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking to halt the Global Ayyappa Sangamam scheduled to be conducted on September 20, 2025, at Pamba.
An Ayyappa devotee, Dr PS Mahendrakumar, has approached the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the Kerala High Court’s September 11 order, restraining the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and the state government from organizing the event.
In his plea, the petitioner alleges that the programme is politically motivated and that the Devaswom Board is being used as a cover. He expressed concerns that temple funds might be diverted for the event, which could involve individuals opposing Sanatana Dharma.
The petition further contends that if such a gathering is allowed, governments may continue to hold political events under the guise of religious congregations. It also points out that the banks of the Pampa River are an environmentally sensitive zone, and holding the event there would violate court directives.
Mahendrakumar argues that secularism is a basic tenet of the Indian Constitution, and the government has no authority to propagate the ideology of any religious group.
He also claims that atheist politicians have been invited, which demonstrates political involvement. The petition asserts that Devaswom funds belong to the deity and must not be used for political purposes or campaigns.
Earlier, on September 11, the Kerala High Court permitted the conduct of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam with stringent conditions to safeguard the sanctity of Sabarimala and the rights of ordinary devotees.
A Division Bench comprising Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K. V. Jayakumar directed the TDB to ensure that no event compromises the sanctity of the Pampa River by erecting permanent or temporary structures.
Challenging this order, the petitioner has sought “a direction for staying the impugned order of 11.09.2025” and urged the Supreme Court to restrain the respondents from conducting the event or using temple funds, properties, or contributions for it, pending the final disposal of the case.