Kochi, February 19 The Kerala High Court has observed that there are "deep-rooted systemic deficiencies" in the procedures, supervision, stock accounting, and financial control within the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) regarding sacred offerings at the Sabarimala temple.
It stated that the time has come for the TDB to establish a comprehensive, transparent, and accountable framework to ensure that the Board's legitimate income is properly safeguarded and "not allowed to be lost through leakage, theft, or mismanagement".
A bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar made these observations after reviewing the report of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating alleged misappropriation of funds by TDB employees related to the sale of 'Adiya Sishtam Ghee' – a sacred offering sold to devotees at the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala.
The SIT, comprising officers of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), informed the bench that they had registered a case under the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against 33 individuals, including temple special officers and around 30 supporting staff.
The bench directed the SIT to proceed with its investigation and try to complete it within 45 days.
After reviewing the findings in the report, the bench said, "…we find the existence of several anomalies which are symptomatic of deep-rooted systemic deficiencies. These deficiencies, in our considered view, require to be addressed by the Board on an urgent basis."
"These are not isolated irregularities but point to systemic deficiencies in procedures, supervision, stock accounting, and financial control," the court added.
It further stated that it was "shocking" to note the "casual and careless manner" in which records were maintained, and the income generated from the sale of sacred offerings was accounted for.
"The situation presented to us is therefore entirely unacceptable," the bench said.
The court directed that the Board shall ensure that all income generated through the sale of prasadam items – including, but not limited to, Appam, Adiya Sishtam Ghee, Aravana, Vibhoothi, Kumkum, and other sacred offerings – is brought under a fully accountable and transparent financial and administrative framework.
The court also laid down a comprehensive framework to ensure that the offerings by countless devotees were "treated with the sanctity and fiduciary responsibility" and that the legitimate revenue accruing to the Board was duly protected and accounted for.
The court suggested that a standardized end-to-end procedure be put in place to govern each stage of the process, starting from the quantity of offerings, such as ghee, by devotees on a daily and seasonal basis, and ending with the remittance of the sale proceeds.
It directed that the framework be put in place immediately, and, if necessary, by seeking professional and technical assistance without delay.
"We have consciously considered the need for professional assistance, as the materials placed before us reveal that the Board presently lacks the institutional capacity, technical expertise, and systemic machinery required to independently put its administrative and accounting processes in order."
"The Board shall therefore place before this court a detailed action plan indicating the manner in which the above directions are proposed to be implemented, together with a clear and time-bound schedule for compliance," the court said, and listed the matter for further hearing on February 27.
The observations and directions by the court came in a petition initiated by the court itself, following a report by the TDB's Chief Vigilance and Security Officer pointing out irregularities in the sale proceeds of 'Adiya Sishtam Ghee'.
The court had ordered a vigilance probe into the matter on January 13 after being "shocked and deeply disturbed" by the alleged misappropriation of funds from the sale of the ghee during the two-month long Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, which concluded on January 20.
