Kerala HC seeks details of transactions made by priests, workers during Sabarimala season

The Kerala High Court has directed the standing counsel of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to obtain instructions from the board regarding, among others, the Melsanthi at Malikappuram remitting ₹46.51 lakh and an assistant of the Tantri remitting ₹1.17 lakh at post offices and financial institutions at Sabarimala during the 2025-2026 Mandalam-Makaravilakku season. 

The court issued the direction after the Sabarimala Special Commissioner submitted a report in the High Court on the alleged financial irregularities involving casual labourers and permanent duty staff at Sabarimala during the season. The report states that these amounts represent the 'Dakshina' (donation) received by the Tantri and Melsanthi in connection with religious services performed by them. The report further speaks of a total of ₹11.45 crore being remitted through 942 transactions during the period by daily wage employees, santhis, melshanthis, keezhsanthis and various others, including persons who had taken ‘kuthaka' rights. Details relating to about 18 individuals, including the santhis arraigned as accused in the Adiyasishtam Ghee issue, were placed before the court. 

The report further cites the need to post at least five more police personnel during monthly puja time to maintain effective supervision and to prevent pilferage of money during Bhandaram duties.

The report was submitted following a discreet inquiry conducted by the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer (Superintendent of Police) regarding remittances made by daily wage workers at post offices and banking institutions operating in and around the Sannidhanam.

The amicus curiae appearing for the Special Commissioner also informed the court that as per the District Collector, Pathanamthitta, some payment to sanitation workers deployed through the Sabarimala Sanitation Society remained unpaid. A total of ₹9 lakh up to October 2025 and ₹58.60 lakh for the subsequent period remained unpaid. Also, an additional amount of ₹53.77 lakh had not yet been disbursed. For the 2025-26 Mandalam-Makaravilakku season, only ₹3 crore had been released by the board. Though around 1,000 sanitation workers were deployed at ₹550 a day for 45 days, their wages for 26 days remained unpaid.

Following this, the court expressed "anguish and deep dissatisfaction” regarding the prevailing state of affairs. The sanitation workers engaged for these duties performed essential services under extremely demanding conditions and were paid only modest daily wages. If even these modest amounts were not disbursed in a timely manner, it raised grave concerns regarding the ability of such workers to sustain their already meagre livelihood, it said. 

The court directed the Standing Counsel for the TDB and the Government Pleader to obtain instructions and inform the court regarding the reasons for the non-payment of the amounts due to the sanitation workers. The matter has been posted for hearing on March 12.