Kerala HC expresses shock at alleged misappropriation of funds at ghee sale counter in Sabarimala

The Kerala High Court, while hearing a suo motu plea regarding the alleged misappropriation of funds at the ghee sale counter in the Sabarimala Sannidhanam, on Wednesday expressed shock over probe reports highlighting the “existence of several anomalies symptomatic of deep-rooted systemic deficiencies at the Travancore Devaswom Board.”

The court emphasised that these deficiencies must be addressed by the board on an urgent basis. It noted with concern the callous and casual manner in which records are maintained and the income generated from the sale of sacred offerings is accounted for. Even a modest shop would be expected to maintain far stricter accounting discipline to ensure proper reconciliation of income and stock. “The situation presented before the court is wholly unacceptable,” observed a Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K V Jayakumar.

Alarmingly, no formal proceedings or authenticated records exist detailing staff deployment at each counter. Instead, postings are merely listed and displayed at the office of the Temple Special Officer. The investigation further revealed that employees with as little as one week of service in the board have been deputed to handle sensitive assignments involving substantial cash and stock.

The process for issuing packeted ghee for sale was described as equally troubling. The Temple Special Officer records quantities in a notebook, colloquially known as the “Kutti Book,” before issuing packets to the counters. Separate notebooks are maintained for each counter and kept in the temple office, recording the number of packets issued along with the signatures of receiving counter staff.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the matter produced one such school-series notebook of approximately 200 pages relating to the Maramathu-II Counter, covering the period from November 17 to December 30. Yet, only about 20 pages had been utilised. The notebook contained multiple corrections, overwritings, and interlineations. The court underscored that the board and its officials are expected to exercise far greater oversight in matters generating several lakhs of rupees daily.

Having considered the facts and circumstances presented — particularly the grave and systemic issues affecting the sale and accounting of Adiya Sishtam Ghee, Vibhoothi, and Kumkum — the court observed that it is imperative for the board to implement a comprehensive, transparent, and accountable framework. This framework must strictly adhere to established accounting and audit practices to ensure that the board’s legitimate income is safeguarded and not lost to leakage, pilferage, or mismanagement.

The court further directed the board to ensure that all income generated from 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 SIT was constituted by the Director of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau pursuant to a High Court directive and has been probing the processes by which Adiya Sishtam Ghee is obtained, stored, packed, and sold at Sabarimala.