Kerala High Court quizzes State over Global Ayyappa Event, flags potential misuse of temple funds

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday heard multiple petitions challenging the state government's involvement in the 'Global Ayyappa Sangamam' event, where petitioners have sought to restrain the government and Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) from holding the event, calling it a political programme that misuses Lord Ayyappa's name. [Ajeesh Kalathil Gopi v State of Kerala & ors and connected cases]..The event which is scheduled to be held at Pamba between September 16 and 21 as part of the TDB's platinum jubilee celebrations, has sparked controversy, with petitioners accusing the government and the Board of politicising religious spaces and misusing temple funds.The division bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar questioned the government on the event's core objectives and management.It sought clarity on how funds would be collected and utilised for the event, whether corporate sponsorships could be accepted and how the money would be accounted for."What is the role of the State in this area? Are you assisting the Travancore Devaswom Board? How will funds for the event be collected and utilised? Why should the State conduct such a program as part of TDB's jubilee celebrations? Suppose a corporate sponsor comes forward, how can the funds be used? How is it being collected and what about the money collected based on the deity's name?" Justice Vijayaraghavan orally asked..The government in its counter affidavit mentioned that the event is organised by the TDB and the State government would provide assistance to showcase Sabarimala as a global pilgrimage centre, to spread the universal message of 'Thathwamasi' and promote religious harmony and global unity.Advocate General Gopalakrishna Kurup K told the Court that the government was not collecting any money in the deity's name but through corporate sponsorships and voluntary contributions. He also added that there is no statutory bar for conducting such an event or on the use of such funds for the event.However, the counsel for the petitioners argued that the event was a politically motivated programme, raising concerns on the collection and use of funds for the event.They submitted that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is also the chief patron of the event, had previously ridiculed Lord Ayyappa and invited personalities like Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi Stalin, known for opposing Sanatana Dharma.The petitioners argued that such figures were unfit to be part of a congregation of devotees and stated that the event rather than promoting devotion, served purely political and financial interests.Counsel Krishna Raj, representing one of the petitioners, argued that no documents had been produced substantiating any decisions taken by the Board with respect to this event and that everything was being controlled by the State government."This is purely a business transaction, not a religious initiative. Unlike Christianity or Islam, Sanatana Dharma needs no propagation as the government is claiming through the conclave objective of global promotion of Sabarimala temple....People visit the temple knowing its sanctity. There is no need for the government to promote it, especially when it cannot even manage the crowd coming to the temple properly," he submitted.Counsel Ajeesh Kalathil Gopi, appearing in person, stated that the temple did not need promotion but protection.He submitted that accepting sponsorships could set a dangerous precedent since such a move could allow sponsors to have undue influence over temple administration, which is managed by the Board under the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, 1950, which governs the administration of Sabarimala temple and its premises.The Court also enquired the government about the invitee list for the event and whether ordinary devotee's privileges would be affected during the said event."What is the criteria for selecting participants? Is it first come, first serve basis?You are saying you plan to invite 3,000 people, but in your counter you also mention that you want inputs from attendees. So how are you planning to do that? Who falls on the invitee list? Are there any preferences?" the Court asked.AG Kurup stated that TDB manages Sabarimala affairs with support from various government departments, including Forest, Health, Fire, KSEB, KSRTC and others under a master plan approved by the Kerala government for phased development, pilgrim safety and environmental protection. Thus, even accommodation would be managed and provided for the people gathering for the event.He also added that a sponsorship committee is also constituted to oversee the collection of funds and its utilisation.The bench after hearing the submissions concluded by stating that it would consider the counter filed by the government in detail before passing further orders..The petitioners were represented by advocates Sajithkumar V, Krishna Raj, and Ajeesh Kalathil Gopi.Advocate G Biju appeared for the Travancore Devaswom Board..[Read live coverage]