Kerala High Court Seeks Clarity On Travancore Devaswom Board's Global Event At Sabarimala, Says Can't Use Devotees' Money

A lawyer has moved a PIL before the Kerala High Court seeking a direction restraining the State government and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) from conducting an event titled 'Global Ayyappa Sangamam' in the premises of Sabarimala Shrine and Pampa from 16-20 September.

According to the plea, the event is veiled as one related to devotion, tourism and secular promotion, but in reality, is a political congregation.

When the matter came before the Court for consideration on Wednesday (September 3), the Division Bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. orally questioned the parties about the nature of the event.

"TDB does not mean Ayyappa alone. If it is done by the TDB, why do you call it a Global Ayyappa Sangamam? Hinduism cannot be confined to a small, narrow jacket thing. Hinduism is not a religion. Hinduism is a way of life. We believe in everything. We respect everybody. We don't disrespect anything in the world. We understand that we are only part of the cosmos. So, why do you call it a Global Ayyappa Sangamam? Is it a congregation of people? You want to celebrate your platinum jubilee," the Court orally remarked.

The standing counsel for the Travancore Devaswom Board submitted that the proposed event is being conducted by the TDB to showcase “Sabarimala as a global pilgrimage centre and to propagate the universal message of 'thattvamasi' promoting religious harmony and global unity”. The event also coincides with the platinum jubilee of the establishment of the Board. 

Upon hearing the same, the Court observed, "Interestingly, neither of the sides have been able to tell us with precision what the nature of the event is likely to be. What we are told are peripheral things which does not really explain the event at all...When the TDB says that they are intending to “showcase Sabarimala” as a global pilgrimage centre, it can only mean that they are promoting pilgrimage congregations and duties under the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act."

Next, the Court questioned about the funding for the event to which it was replied that there are sponsorships and no money would be taken from the State Exchequer or from the resources of the TDB.

"You cannot use the devotees resources. You are saying that you are going to celebrate the platinum jubilee of the TDB. It is an institution that is being celebrated. They can't use this. What is meant by sponsorship? We do not know. It's a dangerous thing to say sponsorship. Who will make the guidelines for sponsorships?" the Court orally inquired.

However, since there was no clarity given as to who the sponsors are, the Court gave time to the standing counsel of the Board to get written instructions regarding the same.

The senior government pleader representing the State submitted that its role is confined to providing logistical support for crowd management as the event would be conducted on a large-scale.

The Court further cautioned about the need for transparency when conducting such an event as the one proposed. It also questioned the need to conduct the event on a large scale. It orally remarked, "Is this something that the TDB should be doing? Where is your power under the Act to do all this? Why only Sabarimala? Because Sabarimala is a showcasing one?"

It also remarked that the duties and obligations of a body exercising powers under the Devaswom Act are only to the religious institutions governed by the statute and the trust and conscience of the people vested in them. Therefore, anything that they do must fall within the ambit of this and not beyond, the court said. 

"Any event that it is to be conducted by the TDB will have to be spiritual, religious in its connotation and in tune with the conscience of the multitudes who believe in the omnipotent, manifested as Lord Ayyappa," the Court orally noted.

The Court, thereafter, issued notice to the respondents. Standing counsel took notice for the Travancore Devaswom Board (R2) and Government Pleader took notice for State, Ministry of Co-Operation, Ports, And Devaswoms and District Collector, Pathanamthitta.

The case will be taken again on September 9.

Case No: WP (PIL) No. 109 of 2025

Case Tile: Ajeesh Kalathil Gopi v. State of Kerala and Ors.

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