Kerala HC Allows Repair of Sabarimala Dwarapalaka Panels, Seeks Details on Gold Plating
Kochi: The Kerala High Court has said that the repair of the gold-plated panels on the Dwarapalaka idols at Sabarimala can continue, but only if the work follows proper legal rules.
The Court noted that there is no clear information on how much gold was used for the plating and asked for all records, including the mahazar, to be produced at the next hearing.
Earlier, the Court had criticised the decision to remove the panels from Sabarimala and send them to Chennai for repairs without its permission. A report submitted by Special Commissioner R. Jayakrishnan also pointed this out. The Court has now made it clear that any gold-related work at Sabarimala requires its approval.
Travancore Devaswom Board president P.S. Prasanth said the copper sheets under the gold plating were damaged, which is why the panels were sent to Chennai. He explained that temple door repairs were already completed in 2023 based on a tantric directive that also mentioned the Dwarapalakas and sacred steps. The panels were taken out after the Onam pujas and sent for urgent repairs.
According to Prasanth, the repaired panels will be reinstalled after purification rituals on the third day of the Malayalam month of Kanni. He also said that some reports circulating on the issue are not true.