While disposing of a Writ Petition filed challenging the use of Halal certified jaggery for preparation of prasadam at Sabarimala Temple, the Kerala High Court has observed that the Travancore Devaswom Board ought to have exercised greater care to ensure that the quantity of jaggery supplied by the manufacturer did not bear symbols, markings or declarations that could give rise to an apprehension of conflict with the religious customs and practices followed at the Temple.

The Court has asked the Travancore Devaswom Board to exercise due care and incorporate necessary conditions in the e-tender documents to ensure that the materials procured for the preparation of Nivedyam and Prasadam conform with the prescribed quality standards as well as the religious customs applicable to the Temple.

The High Court was considering a petition filed by a devotee of Lord Ayyappa complaining of the action on the part of the Travancore Devaswom Board in procuring Halal-certified jaggery for the preparation of Prasadam, including Aravana and Unniyappam, at Sabarimala Temple. The petitioner claimed that the same was allegedly in violation of the rituals and customs prevailing in the Hindu community.

The Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K. V. Jayakumar observed, "Ideally, the Travancore Devaswom Board ought to have exercised greater care to ensure that the quantity of jaggery supplied by the manufacturer did not bear symbols, markings or declarations that could give rise to an apprehension of conflict with the religious customs and practices followed at the Temple."

The Court further held, “Having regard to the stand taken by the Devaswom Board, the materials placed on record, the results of the quality testing conducted by the competent authorities, and the undertaking given by the Devaswom Board that greater care would be exercised in future, we are of the view that the Writ Petition can be disposed of by directing the Travancore Devaswom Board to exercise due care and caution in future and to incorporate appropriate and necessary conditions in the e-tender documents so as to ensure that the materials procured for the preparation of Nivedyam and Prasadam are in conformity with the prescribed quality standards as well as the religious customs and requirements applicable to the Temple.”


Advocate M.K. Sumod represented the Petitioner while Standing Counsel G. Biju represented the Respondent.

Arguments

It was the case of the petitioner that the use of spoiled Halal Certified Jaggery powder would pose health hazards to innocent devotees. According to the petitioner, such Jaggery was prepared in accordance with the religious practices of another religion, and offering the same to the deity would amount to a serious violation of the religious customs and rituals followed at the Temple from time immemorial. The petitioner thus sought issuance of appropriate directions to the respondents to ensure that only Satwik and pure materials of high quality are used in the preparation of Nivedyam and Prasadam for Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala Temple.

Reasoning

Considering the analysis reports, the Bench found that the jaggery was tested by the Food Safety Laboratory with regard to parameters including moisture content and total sugar, with invert sugar, along with the relevant remarks. The test results revealed that the jaggery supplied by Vardhan Agro Processing Limited was satisfactory in terms of the parameters tested.

On a perusal of the statement filed by the Devaswom Board, the Bench found that the procedure adopted by the Devaswom Board for procuring a large quantity of jaggery is through an e-tender process. Pursuant to the said process, Vardhan Agro Processing Limited emerged as the successful bidder and was required to supply 19,96,034 kilograms of jaggery powder.

“From the statement filed before us, it is evident that the said company also exports jaggery to certain Middle Eastern countries and that it was for the purpose of such exports that the packaging bore the Halal certification marking”, it noted.

The Bench thus disposed of the petition by directing the Travancore Devaswom Board to ensure that the materials procured for the preparation of Nivedyam and Prasadam are in conformity with the prescribed quality standards as well as the religious customs.

Cause Title: S.J.R.Kumar v. The Travancore Devaswom Board (Neutral Citation: 2026:KER:75371)

Appearance

Petitioner: Advocates M.K. Sumod, Vidya M.K., Sudhir Nambiar P. V., Rema T.P., Thushara. K, Meera S Gopan

Respondent: Standing Counsel G. Biju, Spl. Government Pleader K. R. Sunil, Advocates S.A. Anand, O.D. Sivadas, Central Govt Counsel Rahul Venugopal, Advocates S. Subhash Chand, P.R. Ashok Kumar

Click here to read/download Order


Kerala High CourtJustice Raja Vijayaraghavan VJustice K.V. Jayakumar

Tulip Kanth

Assistant Editor

Tulip Kanth is an Assistant Editor at Verdictum having over 5 years of experience in the field of legal journalism and editing. She extensively covers judgments of the Supreme Court, High Courts as well as Tribunals. She has previously worked with a legal publishing website where she oversaw the work of other editors and has also created updates on notifications of different Government Ministries. She holds an English Honours Degree from SGTB Khalsa College, Delhi University and has completed her LLB course with specialisation in Corporate Law from Amity University.