The Kerala High Court has called for the establishment of a fully equipped food testing laboratory at Pamba to ensure faster and more effective quality checks of food items supplied at Sabarimala. The order was passed by a Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K. V. Jayakumar on August 14, 2026.
Background of the Case
The issue arose in a writ petition concerning food safety arrangements at Sabarimala. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) informed the Court that an inspection was attempted on August 11, 2026, but a comprehensive inspection could not be completed as the temple remained closed. A detailed inspection was to be conducted after reopening.
The Travancore Devaswom Board also told the Court that the laboratory presently available at Pamba was small and not capable of continuous and exhaustive testing of items such as Aravana and Appam. Samples therefore had to be sent to laboratories in Pathanamthitta or Thiruvananthapuram.
The Bench observed that “it is high time” for a fully fledged and comprehensive food testing laboratory to be established at Pamba so that necessary tests could be conducted without delay and food safety standards strictly maintained.
The Court directed the Special Government Pleader to obtain instructions on the feasibility of setting up the facility, including its infrastructure, manpower and other requirements. The authorities were also asked to specify the time frame for commencing the laboratory.
The matter was posted for September 14, 2026.
