Global Ayyappa Sangamam: Kerala High Court Dismisses Petitions Challenging Conduct Of Event

The Kerala High Court on Friday (October 17) dismissed all petitions related to the conduct of 'Global Ayyappa Sangamam' which was held on September 20 in the premises of Sabarimala Shrine and at the banks of the River Pamba.

The petitions had claimed that the event was a political and commercial one, veiled as one related to devotion, tourism and secular promotion.

In its order dated 11.09.2025, the High Court had cleared the deck for the conduct of the event with detailed directives to preserve the sanctity of the Sabarimala temple and the rights of its devotees. The Supreme Court had also refused to interfere in the matter.

Recently, a petition was moved by one of the petitioners claiming that the Sangamam was funded by the Travancore Devaswom Board, in contravention of its affidavit claiming that event would be primarily through voluntary contributions. As per the TDB, the event was funded primarily through sponsorships and voluntary contributions.

Today, when the matters including the petition were taken up, the Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar orally noted:

"Your prayer only is to declare that the conduct of the functions on the banks is violative of the Constitutional mandate and the scheme of the devaswom."

It, thus, thought it fit to dismiss the pleas and closed the writ petitions. The Bench observed:

"All these writ petitions were preferred challenging the conduct of the Ayyappa Sangam on the bank of River Pamba. By order dated 11.9.2025, this Court had refused to grant the interim prayer. The matter was taken up before the Apex Court and it refused to interfere. The Sangamam was held on September 20. In that view of the matter, we do not think there is absolutely any reason to retain these petitions on file. These petitions are dismissed."

A detailed order is awaited.

Case No: WP(C) No. 33325/2025 and connected cases

Case Title: SJR Kumar v. State of Kerala and Ors. and connected cases

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 652