Kerala High Court
Suo Motu vs State Of Kerala on 26 August, 2025
Author: V Raja Vijayaraghavan
Bench: V Raja Vijayaraghavan
2025:KER:64812
DBP No.53/2025 1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V
&
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K. V. JAYAKUMAR
TH
TUESDAY, THE 26 DAY OF AUGUST 2025 / 4TH BHADRA, 1947
DBP NO. 53 OF 2025
IN THE MATTER OF TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD- COMPLAINT
REGARDING UNAUTHORISED COLLECTION OF LOCKER CHARGES AT PAMBA,
SABARIMALA AND RESULTANT REVENUE LOSS - SUO MOTU PROCEEDINGS
INITIATED BASED ON AN ANONYMOUS COMPLAINT DATED NIL- REG.
PETITIONER:
SUO MOTU
X
RESPONDENTS:
1 STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO
GOVERNMENT, REVENUE (DEVASWOM) DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT
SECRETARIAT,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695001.
2 CHIEF POLICE COORDINATOR(ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR
GENERAL OF POLICE), (POLICE HEADQUARTERS),
SABARIMALA, PATHANAMTHITTA, PIN - 689 713
3 THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, NANTHANCODE,
KAWDIAR POST , THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 003
4 THE DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER
TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, DEVASWOM BUILDINGS, NANTHNCODE,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695 003
5 EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SABARIMALA, SABARIMALA P.O., PATHANAMTHITTA - 689 662
6 CHIEF VIGILANCE & SECURITY OFFICER (SUPERINTENDENT OF
POLICE), TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM HEAD QUARTERS,
NANTHANCODE, KAWDIAR POST,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 003
THIS DEVASWOM BOARD PETITION HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON
20.08.2025, THE COURT ON 26.08.2025 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
2025:KER:64812
DBP No.53/2025 2
JUDGMENT
K. V. Jayakumar, J.
This suo motu proceeding dated 11.04.2025 is initiated on the basis of
an anonymous complaint submitted to the Honourable Chief Justice about
the unauthorized collection of locker charges at Pamba, Sabarimala and the
resultant revenue loss caused to the Travancore Devaswom Board.
2. It is stated in the complaint that only one locker room is
available at Pamba. The grievance projected is that a fee of ₹100 is collected
for each bag, but no receipts or vouchers are being issued to the pilgrims for
the said amount. Furthermore, it is stated in the complaint that nearly 50
lakh pilgrims visit the hill shrine during the festive season, which spans from
15th November 2024 to 25th January 2025 and that the revenue loss as a
result is huge.
3. When the matter was placed before the Honourable Chief
Justice, it was referred to the Devaswom Bench of this Court for the issuance
of appropriate directions.
4. Adv. S. Rajmohan, learned Senior Government Pleader takes
notice for respondent Nos. 1 and 2 and Adv. G. Biju, learned Standing
Counsel appears for respondent Nos. 3 to 6.
2025:KER:64812
DBP No.53/2025 3
5. The learned Standing Counsel for the Travancore Devaswom
Board submitted that the kuthaka right with respect to the cloakroom and
the space for placing viri was given to Sri. Shyam Sasidharan Nair for an
amount of Rs. 1,28,44,444/-. As per the terms and conditions of the tender,
the charge for a locker is Rs. 30/- for 24 hrs. The charge for space for
placing viri is Rs. 50/-per head.
6. The learned counsel further submits that one Abhishek Kumar
M. M., a devotee, had submitted a complaint before the Pamba Police Station
alleging that an amount of ₹100/- was collected from him for the use of the
cloakroom by Kuthaka No.112, Sri Shyam Sasidharan Nair. The said
complaint was forwarded by the police to the Executive Officer of the
Travancore Devaswom Board, pursuant to which a notice was issued to Sri
Shyam Sasidharan Nair, directing him to collect only the permissible amount
from the devotees and to treat them with due courtesy. It is submitted that,
thereafter, no further complaints were received by the Travancore Devaswom
Board. A display board indicating the prescribed rates for the use of the
cloakroom has also been exhibited at the site.
7. The learned counsel has also produced the photographs of the
board exhibited in front of the cloakroom.
2025:KER:64812
DBP No.53/2025 4
8. We have carefully considered the submissions of the learned
Senior Government Pleader and learned Standing Counsel for the Travancore
Devaswom Board.
9. The kuthaka right for the cloakroom and stall was given to Sri.
Shyam Sasidharan Nair for an amount of Rs. 1,28,44,444/-. It appears that
complaints had already been received regarding the collection of excess
amounts for the use of the cloakroom and stall. The anonymous complaint
has been lodged by a devotee from Telangana.
10. When the Travancore Devaswom Board received a complaint
from one Abhishek Kumar, dated 11.04.2025, the only step taken was to
direct the kuthaka holder to collect only the permissible amount.
11. From the photographs received, it appears that the Board had
allegedly exhibited a notice in front of the locker room and stall; however,
the same is in the vernacular language and is very small in size. During the
Mandala Mahotsavam, devotees from various other states would also visit
the temple premises. It is reported that approximately 50 lakh devotees visit
Sabarimala during the festive season spanning from November to January.
Presently, vouchers or receipts are not being issued to pilgrims for payments
made in respect of the cloakroom and stalls. This raises the likelihood of
2025:KER:64812
DBP No.53/2025 5
substantial revenue loss to the Travancore Devaswom Board. Moreover,
amounts in excess of the permissible rates, as stipulated in the terms and
conditions of the tender, are being collected by the Kuthaka holder.
Therefore, having considered the submissions of the learned Standing
Counsel, we are of the view that this DBP can be disposed of with the
following directions:
1. Strict action shall be initiated against the Kuthaka holder, Sri Shyam
Sasidharan Nair, for collecting amounts in excess of the permissible
limits, in violation of the terms and conditions of the tender.
2. The Travancore Devaswom Board shall ensure that boards displaying
the prescribed rates for the cloakroom and stalls are prominently
exhibited in front of the respective shops, in English, Malayalam, and
other regional languages, to facilitate and inform the devotees.
3. Urgent steps shall be initiated against the violators of the terms and
conditions of the kuthaka tender, including proceedings for
blacklisting them.
4. The Chief Vigilance Officer of Travancore Devaswom Board shall take
effective steps to avoid the malpractices by the kuthaka holders.
Sd/-
RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V
JUDGE
Sd/-
K. V. JAYAKUMAR
JUDGE
Sbna/
