Kerala High Court Orders Return of Gold Sheets Taken from Sabarimala Temple in Violation of 2023 Order

The Kerala High Court has directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to return gold-plated copper sheets removed from above the Dwarapalaka idols at the Sabarimala Temple without prior approval.

The sheets, sent to Chennai for repair, were taken down in violation of a 2023 order requiring sanction from the Court and Sabarimala’s Special Commissioner.

Taking note of the Commissioner’s report, the Bench rebuked the TDB for bypassing mandatory legal procedures and made it clear that any repair work at the temple can only be undertaken with prior court permission.