The court cleared the event under conditions aimed at preserving the sanctity of the shrine and protecting the fragile ecosystem of the Pampa River.
Published Sep 11, 2025 | 9:35 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 11, 2025 | 9:35 PM
Kerala High Court. (iStock)
Synopsis: Kerala High Court has affirmed the Travancore Devaswom Board’s authority to convene the Global Ayyappa Sangamam at Pampa on 20 September, dismissing petitions that alleged political and commercial motives. However, the court imposed strict conditions to protect the sanctity of the Sabarimala shrine and the Pampa River.
Amid a flurry of political controversies over the upcoming Global Ayyappa Sangamam, the Kerala High Court has given the state government and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) a breather.
Dismissing petitions that labelled the event as political and commercial, a division bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan and KV Jayakumar on Thursday, 11 September, upheld the TDB’s statutory powers under the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act to convene the one-day conclave, set for 20 September at Pampa.
The court noted that while it had earlier questioned the board’s authority to organise a large-scale, non-religious event, it was now persuaded that the Sangamam’s main goal was to mobilise resources and gather constructive inputs for the effective implementation of Phase II of the Sabarimala Master Plan.
Referring to the programme schedule, the bench pointed out that the event includes presentations and panel discussions on sustainability, spiritual pilgrimage circuits, disaster preparedness, crowd management, and preservation of Sabarimala’s unique spiritual and ecological heritage.
If such deliberations produce actionable outcomes, the court observed, they would significantly contribute to the temple’s long-term resilience, infrastructural strengthening, and overall development.
Notably, the court cleared the event under conditions aimed at preserving the sanctity of the shrine and protecting the fragile ecosystem of the Pampa River.
The directions state that no event can undermine the holiness of the riverbanks. Permanent or temporary structures are permitted only if they are minimal, non-intrusive, and environmentally sensitive.
The Travancore Devaswom Board has been tasked with ensuring rituals and ceremonies remain undisturbed while also preventing disruption to pilgrims’ movements.
The court stressed that the presence of dignitaries—including chief ministers, ministers, and foreign invitees—must not compromise facilities, safety, or the spiritual experience of ordinary devotees.
A total ban on plastic waste, alongside strict waste management protocols, has been mandated to preserve the river’s cleanliness.
Organisers must maintain transparent, audited accounts of expenses and contributions, submit them within 45 days, and ensure no participant enjoys special privileges. The court also insisted on robust crowd management and medical preparedness plans.
The bench accepted the government’s and TDB’s assurance that the conclave would be funded through sponsorships and voluntary contributions, not temple revenues, but emphasised the need for transparent accounting. It directed that every rupee received and spent be subject to statutory audit.
Earlier, petitioners had alleged that the Global Ayyappa Sangamam at Pampa was less about spirituality and more about politics.
They argued that the conclave, projected as a platform to spread the message of “Tat Tvam Asi” and showcase Sabarimala as a global pilgrim centre, was a political decision dressed in religious colours, with the TDB being dragged in to lend legitimacy.
According to them, the move violates the secular role of the state and risks reducing the sacred pilgrimage to commercial religious tourism, breaching the TDB’s fiduciary duties to the deity and devotees.
Countering these charges, the TDB said the Sangamam, scheduled for 20 September 2025, is a platinum jubilee initiative organised in cooperation with the Kerala government.
It frames the event as a unique spiritual, cultural, and developmental gathering of around 3,000 devotees worldwide, featuring exhibitions, religious discourses, and discussions on infrastructural improvements at Sabarimala without disturbing its sanctity.
Noting the competing arguments, the court observed that while the objectives might not have been felicitously worded, the underlying purpose is “sublime and legitimate” and cannot be faulted.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
