Pathanamthitta: The Kerala High Court, in 2023, ruled that valuable materials donated by devotees, including gold and silver, should not be taken out of the Sannidhanam for repair without prior approval. The order came after the Japamala and Yogadandu— ornaments regularly used to adorn the idol of Lord Ayyappa— were removed from the Sanctum Sanctorum with the knowledge of the court-appointed Special Commissioner and taken to the Devaswom Executive Office for repairs.

The broken Japamala chain was repaired by soldering, while the Yogadandu received a silver covering. The repairs, carried out in the presence of the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner, Devaswom Vigilance Officers and Devaswom Gurus, were fully video-graphed.

However, no prior permission from the High Court had been sought before these works began. Upon learning of this, the High Court imposed a strict ban on carrying out such works without prior approval.

Despite this order, the plates covering the idols of Dwarapalakas at the entrance of the Sanctum Sanctorum were once again dismantled without the Court’s permission and sent to Chennai for repair. This action, in September 2025, was not even communicated to the Special Commissioner.