Kerala High Court Mandates Online Transparency for Sabarimala Pooja Bookings
In a landmark ruling aimed at enhancing transparency and accessibility for devotees, the Kerala High Court has issued a directive to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). The court has ordered the board to publish information regarding vacant dates for the Padi Pooja ritual on its official website. This move is designed to help devotees easily access available opportunities for performing the sacred ritual at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam.
Addressing Malpractices and Long Waitlists
The directive comes as the court closed further proceedings in a suo motu case, which was initiated based on a report from the Sabarimala special commissioner. The report highlighted certain malpractices in the booking process for Padi Pooja, a ritual involving the worship of the 18 holy steps at the temple. Earlier, the High Court had instructed the chief vigilance and security officer of TDB to take possession of the Padi Pooja booking registers and submit them in a sealed cover along with a detailed report.
The report submitted to the court revealed that, aside from an incident where two individuals secured bookings using false addresses and allegedly transferred them to third parties for profit, no further irregularities have been detected recently. However, the registers showed that bookings for Padi Pooja are already filled from March 2026 up to September 2040, with approximately 705 persons having secured slots. Notably, about 207 days during this period have no bookings, even though the temple remains open and the ritual can be conducted on those days.
Court Directives for Improved Management
In response to these findings, a bench comprising Justices V Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar directed TDB to develop and implement a suitable mechanism. This mechanism should reallocate the vacant slots in a phased and transparent manner, aiming to clear the pending bookings up to September 2040 as much as possible. The court emphasized the need for fairness and efficiency in managing the high demand for this revered ritual.
Additionally, the High Court instructed TDB to explore, with the concurrence of the temple tanthri (chief priest), the feasibility of conducting more than one Padi Pooja on eligible days. This consideration is subject to ritual permissibility and is intended to accommodate more devotees, thereby reducing the extensive waiting period that currently extends over a decade.
Expanding Transparency to Other Rituals
Beyond Padi Pooja, the court also directed TDB to publish information related to vacant dates for other key rituals on its website. These include Udayasthamana Pooja, Ulsava Bali, Kalabhabhishekam, and Sahasra Kalasam. This broader mandate aims to ensure comprehensive transparency across various temple activities, benefiting devotees seeking to participate in multiple sacred ceremonies.
The High Court's ruling underscores a commitment to combating corruption and improving administrative practices within religious institutions. By leveraging digital platforms, the TDB is expected to foster greater trust and accessibility, aligning with modern governance standards while respecting traditional rituals.
