Court Directs Travancore Devaswom Board's Chief Vigilance Officer to Investigate Allegations of Gold Plate Substitution
In a significant development concerning the Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple, the Kerala High Court has ordered a detailed investigation into allegations of misappropriation of gold plates that cover the "Ezharaponnana." Acting on a suo motu case, the court took cognizance of a complaint filed by a devotee, A.G. Prasad Kumar, who alleged that original gold plates were replaced with lower-value metals during recent repair works at the temple.
The bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and K.V. Jayakumar reviewed reports from the Administrative Officer and Assistant Devaswom Commissioner, both of whom claimed no records indicated any maintenance work or misappropriation. Despite these findings, the court deemed it necessary to further investigate the matter to ensure transparency and accountability.
The court has directed the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board to inspect the temple registers and the "Ezharaponnana." The vigilance officer is tasked with examining the weight, quality, and originality of the gold plates, with assistance from a smith to verify the allegations comprehensively.
This decision underscores the court's commitment to safeguarding temple assets and maintaining public trust in the management of religious institutions. The investigation report is expected to be submitted by July 31, 2026.
Bottom line:-
Allegations of misappropriation of gold plates in a temple - Court directs Chief Vigilance and Security Officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board to inspect the temple registers and Ezharapponnana, and submit a detailed report after examining the weight, quality, and originality of the gold.
Statutory provision(s): Not explicitly mentioned in the judgment.
Suo Motu v. State of Kerala, (Kerala)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2931831
