The High Court of Kerala on Wednesday closely reviewed the roadmap for digitising the Travancore Devaswom Board’s operations, stressing that the process must be professional, transparent, and technically sound. The hearing arose from a special audit report into serious embezzlement at the Nilakkal petrol pump, which had raised larger concerns about governance and financial controls.
Background of the Case
The matter is being monitored by the High Court through a Devaswom Board Audit Report (DBAR No. 2 of 2025). The audit, submitted by the Kerala State Audit Department, flagged large-scale financial irregularities, prompting the court to examine systemic gaps within the Travancore Devaswom Board.
Read also:- Adopted Child’s Caste Same as Adoptive Parents, Biological Origin Irrelevant: Bombay High Court
Earlier hearings had already highlighted the urgent need for a technology-driven overhaul to prevent misuse of funds and improve accountability.
Court’s Observations
At the hearing on January 28, the bench Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V & Justice K. V. Jayakumar noted submissions from the Board that it lacked adequate in-house technical expertise to design a secure and large-scale digital system. The Board informed the court that it had decided to engage Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Ltd. (KITFRA) as a technical consultant.
Read also:- Delhi High Court Rejects Lapse Claim in 1960s Land Acquisition, Says Compensation Was Properly Deposited
The judges interacted directly through virtual and physical presence with KITFRA’s senior officials to assess their competence and preparedness.
“Given the complexity and sensitivity of the project, every aspect must be professionally charted,” the bench observed, underlining that the digitisation concerns not just finances but religious and cultural institutions of public importance.-
The court reminded KITFRA that its role would extend beyond drafting technical specifications. It would also be responsible for preparing a Detailed Project Report, business requirement documents, data migration plans, and a clear implementation roadmap.
Read also:- Supreme Court Restores ₹27 Crore Damages in Solar Power Delay Case, Limits Courts’ Power to Rework Awards
The judges recalled their earlier directions that the software must integrate accounting, auditing, procurement, human resources, inventory, temple services, and online booking, with strict audit trails and real-time monitoring.
Decision
Recording KITFRA’s assurance that it would submit a detailed timeline and framework within two weeks, the High Court posted the matter for further monitoring on February 11, 2026, making it clear that progress would continue under judicial watch.
