Kerala HC issues directions to TDB to produce documents related to procurement of puja materials

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The Kerala High Court has directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to submit the entire records relating to the conduct of Ashtabhishekam, Mahanivedyam, Ganapathy Homam and other Vazhipadu (offerings) for the past 10 years. The court was considering a suo motu petition registered based on a report by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner regarding the alleged unauthorised supply and misappropriation of puja materials at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.

The board was further directed to furnish the details of the independent auditor for the last 10 years to enable a closer scrutiny of their audit mechanism.

The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K.V. Jayakumar expressed grave concern over the administration of the temple, financial propriety in the conduct of pujas, accountability of senior temple officials and overall transparency within the board. The court noted several discrepancies in the response submitted by the board to the allegations.

It was remarked that even if the Travancore Devaswom Manual contained a provision permitting special orders to dispense with adherence to the Kerala Financial Code or the Purchase Manual, it could not be interpreted as a blanket exemption from all financial controls. Any such exemption should be explicitly documented, supported by proper authority and duly approved by the competent body, the court said.

The board further contended that insistence on the production of bills and vouchers was impractical as most of the items required for offerings were perishable and had to be procured as and when required. The court replied that documentation would not be impossible just because an item was perishable; it was even more essential considering the risk of misuse and misappropriation.

The court also noted that the board had not produced any material to demonstrate how the temple administration ensured that payments were not made twice for the same items. Additionally, the State Audit department was directed to conduct an ind