Kerala HC orders probe into ‘reduced weight’ of gold-cladded Dwarapalaka idols at Sabarimala temple

The Kerala High Court has ordered a probe into weight of the gold-cladded Dwarapalaka idols at the Sabarimala temple ‘reducing’ by four kilograms since 2019. The probe must be done by the Chief Vigilance Officer of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and a report submitted in three weeks, the court said. The court also asked why a fresh layer of gold was added to the idols in 2019 if they had originally been cladded with gold in 1999.

An explanation is needed since the weight of the idols fell by 4 kg from 42 kg, the court said and directed the TDB to cooperate with the probe. It also asked why the idols’ weight was not checked in 2019 prior to their reinstallation at the temple. The court further ordered the board to ascertain whether the pedestals of the idols have been kept securely in the strong room.

‘Missing details’

On Monday, referring to alleged discrepancies between official records from 2009 and 2019, the Kerala High Court had raised concern about the ‘missing details’ of the gold that was used for cladding the Dwarapalaka idols. Aimed at getting clarity on the issue, a Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar had sought all records regarding the gold. It had also sought documents showing the quantity of gold used in 1999 for cladding the Dwarapalakas, the details of the sponsor and the artisan involved, the quantity used for the 2019 plating, the gold required for the ongoing restoration process, and the manner of recovery and reuse of the gold.

The direction came when the court was considering a suo motu case initiated on a report of the Sabarimala Special Commissioner regarding the despatch of the plates to Chennai for plating without the court’s prior permission.