Kerala High Court Assumes Direct Control Over Sabarimala Global Conclave Audit
In a significant development, the Kerala High Court has decided to directly intervene in the auditing process of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam, a major religious conclave organized by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) at Sabarimala in 2025. This decisive move comes after the court's repeated directives to obtain a fully audited report proved futile, with various allegations swirling around the conduct and financial management of the global event.
Court Suo Motu Impleads Independent Auditor
The bench comprising Justices V Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar took suo motu action on Monday, formally impleading M/s Vijayan and Associates, an independent audit firm based in Thiruvananthapuram. This firm was originally appointed by TDB to conduct the audit of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam. The High Court has issued a stern directive, ordering the audit firm to submit all primary and foundational documents that formed the basis of their audit by March 5.
The required documentation includes, but is not limited to:
- Bills, vouchers, and cash books
- Ledgers and asset registers
- Expenditure statements and agreements with vendors
- Details of final payments effected
- Any supporting documentation connected with the Global Ayyappa Sangamam
Complete Bank Account Statement Demanded
In addition to the audit documents, the High Court has directed TDB to provide the complete account statement of the specific bank account opened with Dhanlaxmi Bank. This account was established in the name of the devaswom accounts officer exclusively for the Global Conclave, covering the period from August 8, 2025, to February 2, 2026. The bench has adjourned the matter to March 5 for further proceedings.
Background of the Case and Court's Observations
During previous hearings, the court had sought explanations from both TDB and the state audit department regarding irregularities identified in the audited accounts of the Sangamam. This event was held on the banks of the Pamba River on September 20, 2025. TDB responded by filing an interlocutory application requesting an additional three weeks to furnish the required explanation.
The court, however, denied this request for extra time. The bench made a pointed observation that even for a one-day event, it had granted TDB more than three months to place the financial statements on record. The court expressed concern that if the board cannot provide credible and verifiable data regarding the funds expended and the specific purposes for such expenditures, it would lead to the unsettling conclusion that the financial discipline of TDB and its officers is below par.
Audit Report and Grave Concerns
The High Court noted that TDB had indeed engaged an independent auditor, and that the audit firm had submitted a report based on the receipts and payments account. This report covered both cash basis and cash-and-credit basis accounting for the period from August 8, 2025, to February 2, 2026.
The court observed with grave concern that if incorrect or inflated payment particulars, or receipts lacking authenticity, had been furnished for audit, this in itself would constitute a serious matter. Furthermore, the bench highlighted that despite repeated requests from the Kerala state audit department, the accounts had not been furnished to date.
Accordingly, given the persistent non-compliance and the serious nature of the allegations, the Kerala High Court has taken the unprecedented step of directly intervening in the audit process to ensure transparency and accountability in the financial dealings of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam.
