Sabarimala ‘Ashtabhishekam’: TDB’s reluctance to produce bills of puja material purchase irks Kerala HC

Kochi: High court on Wednesday expressed serious concern over an affidavit filed by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) stating that it was not practical to produce bills and vouchers for the purchase of puja materials used for the ‘Ashtabhishekam’ offering at the Sabarimala temple, despite allegations of misappropriation of devaswom funds.

A bench of Justices V Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar adjourned the suo motu proceedings initiated, based on a report submitted by the Sabarimala special commissioner, to Monday. The report, relying on a vigilance inquiry, alleged that Rs 5.15 lakh had been misappropriated by temple administrative officials in connection with the purchase of materials for conducting Ashtabhishekam during the previous six masapuja occasions.

TDB’s affidavit filed pursuant to an earlier HC direction stated that most of the items required for Ashtabhishekam are perishable in nature and that their prices fluctuate frequently. It further stated that the materials have to be procured from places where they are available according to demand. Therefore, TDB contended that insisting on the production of bills and vouchers for all purchases was not practical. The affidavit also stated that the sub group officer/administrative officer is not required to adhere to the provisions of the Kerala Financial Code or Purchase Manual.

During hearing, HC orally questioned how accounts relating to the purchases could be audited in the absence of bills or vouchers. “What is wrong with producing bills and vouchers for the purchase of puja materials for Ashtabhishekam,” HC asked. The items required for Ashtabhishekam include panchamrutham, ghee, honey, bhasmam, kalabham, milk, tender coconut and panineer. Of these, the first five items are sourced from the devaswom store, while milk, tender coconut and panineer are purchased or procured by the administrative officer. According to the report, for each Ashtabhishekam, the administrative officer accounted for Rs 300 towards the cost of the entire set of items without producing bills or valid purchase vouchers to substantiate the expenditure.

‘Bail court’s observations unwarranted’

Meanwhile, an HC bench of Justice A Badharudeen on Wednesday orally observed that the findings recorded by the bail court while granting bail to tanthri Kandararu Rajeevaru in cases relating to the alleged gold heist at the Sabarimala temple were unwarranted and liable to be expunged.

HC was considering petitions filed by the state govt challenging the adverse observations made by the bail court, which, according to the state, had effectively given a clean chit to Rajeevaru while granting him bail. The petitions also sought cancellation of the bail in two cases connected with the alleged misappropriation of gold from the temple.

Rajeevaru was arrested on Jan 16 in connection with the cases, and while granting him bail, the special court in Kollam observed that the allegation of criminal conspiracy against the tanthri was not supported by any prima facie material at that stage of investigation. It further noted that no evidence had been produced by the special investigation team (SIT) to establish any direct nexus between the petitioner and the first accused. Aggrieved by these observations, the state govt approached HC.