The Kerala High Court has sought a probe into the alleged permission granted by the Travancore Devaswom Board to a private person to install an idol of Lord Ayyappa at the Sabarimala temple.
The High Court was holding a hearing in a suo motu case taken in this regard.
A Division Bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S. also directed the Chief Police Coordinator of the temple to submit a report on the alleged distribution of pamphlets to mobilise funds for the purpose.
The Sabarimala Special Commissioner was also directed to inspect whether idols and cash-donation boxes had been placed illegally on the Sannidhanam premises and submit a report in this regard.
The government’s counsel said the police had started a probe into the issue and steps had been taken to inform pilgrims about this through the virtual queue platform.
The High Court had recently sought all files related to the alleged permission granted by the TDB to the private person to install the idol. The court initiated the proceedings based on a report filed by R. Jayakrishnan, Sabarimala Special Commissioner, who noted that the TDB had permitted the chairperson of a multi-specialty hospital in Erode to install an idol of Ayyappa made of panchaloham, an alloy of five precious metals, at the temple, without hindering the temple structure and rituals.
The report also took note of the distribution of pamphlets bearing bank account number, QR code, and mobile numbers that said that a two-ft high idol weighing 108 kg and costing ₹9 lakh was to be installed there.
A fundraising campaign had started, on the strength of the ‘permission’ granted by the TDB, creating an impression that he was authorised to do so by the TDB and the State government, it said.
The Sabarimala Tantri had informed the Special Commissioner that he was unaware of the alleged attempt to install the idol, which was against temple rituals. The Special Commissioner sought the interference of the court in the issue and stringent directives to stop such practices in the temple.
