Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday pulled up the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) for removing the gold-plated copper coverings from the Dwarapalaka idols at Sabarimala without informing the Special Commissioner.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K V Jayakumar, while considering the Sabarimala Special Commissioner’s report, expressed concern over repair works being carried out in Chennai in violation of procedures and court oversight.

Installed in 2019 with a 40-year guarantee, the gold-plated coverings developed defects within six years. Sponsored by devotee Unnikrishnan Potty, the TDB sent the items to Smart Creations in Chennai for electroplating, bypassing mandatory intimation. The court noted that the TDB tendered an unconditional apology.

Earlier, the Bench had ordered an immediate halt to the repairs and directed that the items be returned to Sabarimala. It was submitted that repairs began on September 9, with lacquer removed from 12 items, some of which had been polished. The court was also told that transporting gold in liquid form stored in cyanide solution carried risks of loss.

The judges flagged inconsistencies in the decision-making process, pointing out that the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner initially recommended traditional gold cladding at Sannidhanam with 303 grams of gold worth ₹31 lakh, but later reversed the decision in favour of electroplating in Chennai. This, the court observed, violated the TDB Sub Group Manual.

Citing the Supreme Court’s ruling in A A Gopalakrishnan v Cochin Devaswom Board (2007), the Bench stressed the duty of temple trustees and staff to safeguard temple properties.

The court directed the seizure of all records related to the gold-plating, including details of a former pair of Dwarapalaka idols kept in the strong room. It also impleaded sponsor Potty and Smart Creations as additional respondents, ordering them to furnish all financial and communication records. Urgent notices were issued to both, while the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer of TDB was tasked with producing relevant files without delay.
(With LiveLaw inputs)