Court Finds No Quality Deficiency in Jaggery Used at Sabarimala Temple Despite Halal Marking; Travancore Devaswom Board Advised to Align Tender Conditions with Temple Customs
In a significant judgment delivered on September 29, 2026, the Kerala High Court (Division Bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and K.V. Jayakumar) dismissed a writ petition challenging the procurement and use of Halal certified jaggery in the preparation of Nivedyam and Prasadam at the Sabarimala Temple. The petition, filed by S.J.R. Kumar, a devotee of Lord Ayyappa, questioned the authenticity and suitability of jaggery bearing Halal certification, arguing that its use conflicted with Hindu temple customs and posed health risks to devotees.
The petitioner contended that the jaggery procured by the Travancore Devaswom Board through an e-tender process bore a "Halal" certification label, allegedly indicating compliance with Islamic religious practices, which, according to him, rendered the jaggery impure for Hindu rituals. Further, he alleged that some jaggery was spoiled and supplied in violation of tender conditions, raising concerns over food safety and ritual sanctity.
The Court examined the procurement process, which involved awarding contracts to suppliers through e-tendering, with the primary supplier for 2019-2020 being Vardhan Agro Processing Limited, Maharashtra. The Board stated that the Halal certification on some jaggery packets was affixed solely for export purposes to Middle Eastern countries and was intended as a mark of quality assurance, not religious compliance. Importantly, the Food Safety Laboratory at Pamba tested the jaggery samples, finding them satisfactory with no adverse quality issues that would render them unsuitable for preparation of Prasadam.
While acknowledging the petitioner's concerns over religious customs, the Court emphasized that mere presence of Halal certification on packaging does not in itself constitute a violation of temple rituals, especially when the quality and safety standards are met. The Court noted that the Travancore Devaswom Board should have exercised greater vigilance to avoid procurement of products bearing markings that could cause apprehension among devotees.
Accordingly, the Court directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to incorporate explicit provisions in future tender documents ensuring that procured materials conform not only to prescribed food safety standards but also respect the religious customs and requirements of the temple. The Court disposed of the writ petition, reiterating that while quality parameters were met, the Board must exercise due care and caution in future procurements to maintain devotees' trust and temple sanctity.
This ruling balances the technical aspects of food safety with sensitivity to religious sentiments, underscoring the need for administrative diligence in managing temple supplies without compromising on quality or customs.
Bottom Line:
Sabarimala Temple - Procurement of jaggery for preparation of Prasadam - Mere Halal certification marking on packaging, affixed for export purposes, not shown to affect quality or render jaggery unsuitable where Food Safety Laboratory found it satisfactory - However, Travancore Devaswom Board directed to exercise due care in future and include tender conditions ensuring conformity with quality standards and temple customs.
Statutory provision(s):
Article 226 of the Constitution of India, Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011
S.J.R. Kumar v. Travancore Devaswom Board, (Kerala)(DB) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2990544
