The Kerala High Court has directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to exercise greater care while procuring materials used for preparing Nivedyam and Prasadam at Sabarimala Temple. The direction came in a petition challenging the use of jaggery packets carrying a Halal certification marking.
Background
The petitioner, S.J. R. Kumar, a devotee of Lord Ayyappa, questioned the procurement of jaggery powder bearing a Halal certification label for use in preparing Aravana and Unniyappam at Sabarimala. He raised concerns regarding both the religious customs followed at the temple and the quality of the jaggery.
The Devaswom Board explained that the jaggery had been procured through an e-tender process. Some packets supplied by Vardhan Agro Processing Limited carried the Halal marking because the manufacturer exported jaggery to Middle Eastern countries where such certification was required.
The Board also informed the Court that the jaggery supplied had undergone testing by the Food Safety authorities. The laboratory reports showed that the material was satisfactory on the parameters tested.
The Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K. V. Jayakumar noted that the Halal marking on the packaging was connected with the manufacturer’s export requirements. At the same time, the Court observed that the Devaswom Board should have exercised greater care while accepting materials for use at the temple.
The Court recorded:
“Ideally, the Travancore Devaswom Board ought to have exercised greater care to ensure that the quantity of jaggery supplied by the manufacturer did not bear symbols, markings or declarations that could give rise to an apprehension of conflict with the religious customs and practices followed at the Temple.”
However, the Bench found that the quality testing did not disclose any substance or element that would make the jaggery unsuitable for preparing Prasadam.
Taking note of the testing reports, the Devaswom Board’s submissions and its undertaking to exercise greater care in future, the High Court disposed of the writ petition.
The Court directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to exercise due care and caution in future and include appropriate conditions in e-tender documents so that materials procured for Nivedyam and Prasadam comply with prescribed quality standards as well as the religious customs and requirements applicable to the temple.
Case Details
Case Title: S.J.R. Kumar v. Travancore Devaswom Board & Ors.
Case Number: WP(C) No. 25645 of 2021
Judge: Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K. V. Jayakumar
Decision Date: September 29, 2026
