Kerala HC directs TDB to return gold-plated sheets on Dwarapalaka idols at Sabarimal temple

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday strongly criticized the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) for detaching the gold-plated sheets on Dwarapalaka idols at the Sabarimal temple entrance without the court’s approval.

The Devaswom bench of the High Court on Wednesday in an interim order directed the Devaswom Board to return the gold-plated sheets on Dwarapalaka idols at the Sabarimal temple entrance, which was taken to Chennai for repair work.

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Special Commissioner R. Jayakrishnan on Monday Informed the Kerala High Court that the gold-plated sheets on the Dwarapalaka idols at the temple entrance have been detached without the court’s approval.

In his report to the High court, Special Commissioner R. Jayakrishnan pointed out that such work was usually carried out within the temple premises and only after obtaining explicit approval from the court.

The High Court Devaswom bench had earlier directed that gold work in the Sannidhanam should be carried out only with the permission of the court

Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB)President P S Prashanth had said that the gold-plated sheets on Dwarapalaka idols at the Sabarimal temple entrance were taken to Chennai for repair as they were damaged. The permission and consent of the Thantri have been obtained for this . The permission of the Special Commissioner is not required for this

The TDB president said Sabarimala Assistant Executive Officer Hemanth, Administrative Officer Sreenivasan, Thiruvabharanam Special Commissioner Rejilal, Devaswom Vigilance SI Rakesh, two police officers from Vigilance, Devaswom Smith, two Devaswom guards, and a representative of the sponsor who donated the gold plates went to Chennai .The president had also said that the journey was in a safe vehicle

It is learnt that in the wake of the High Court’s order, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is planning to file an appeal against the court’s order on Wednesday . The TDB’s position is that the repair of the gold-plated sheets on Dwarapalaka idols at the Sabarimal temple entrance has begun in Chennai and the Board cannot implement the order to bring them back

The Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala became the focus of a fresh controversy on Monday with the Special Commissioner informing the Kerala High Court that the gold-plated sheets on the Dwarapalaka idols at the temple entrance have been detached without the court’s approval

Meanwhile, the Devaswom Bench of the High Court has raised questions on the global Ayyappa Sangamam scheduled to be conducted on September 20 at Pampa . The court asked what is the government’s role in the event and whether money can be collected in the name of Ayyappa.

The government counsel said that the Ayyappa Sangamam was neither unconstitutional nor a violation of Article 14. The court observed that there was still no clarity on how to raise money for the Ayyappa Sangamam and the government said that neither the government nor the Devaswom Board(TDB) would spend a penny on the Ayyappa Sangam. Everything would be raised through sponsorship

The petitioner argued that the global Ayyappa Sangam is being organized by those who do not believe in Ayyappa. The Ayyappa Sangam is being organized by those who have called for the eradication of Sanadhana Dharma.

The decision to organize the Ayyappa Sangamam is in violation of the law that states that no non-religious programs should be organized in the premises of religious institutions The money received in any form, including sponsorship, belongs to the deity and should not be used for other purposes, the petitioner further argued.