Kerala High Court Appoints Former Judge as Observer to Oversee Selection of Head Priests at Sabarimala and Malikappuram Temples | Orders Strict Compliance with Guidelines
Sanchayita Lahkar
The High Court of Kerala Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar, while acting on a suo motu matter initiated from a report of the Sabarimala Special Commissioner, ordered measures to ensure fairness and transparency in the upcoming selection of Melsanthies (head priests) for the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple and Malikappuram Temple for 2025–26. In its order dated September 29, the Court appointed former High Court judge Justice T.R. Ramachandran Nair as Observer to supervise the interviews and related processes. The Bench directed strict adherence to established guidelines and procedural safeguards to maintain the integrity of the selection exercise.
The Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples, administered by the Travancore Devaswom Board, appoint Melsanthies annually for a one-year tenure. The process—conducted under a Supreme Court-endorsed settlement dated 6 September 2011—includes applications, interviews, preparation of a shortlist, and final selection by draw of lots. The settlement specifies the composition of the Selection Committee, involving the Travancore Devaswom Board President and members, its Commissioner, and Thanthries from the Thazhamon Illam and an outside Thanthri.
For the 2025-26 cycle, 119 applications (70 for Sabarimala and 49 for Malikappuram) were received. Following vigilance scrutiny, 53 candidates for Sabarimala and 36 for Malikappuram were cleared for interviews, scheduled for 3 and 4 October 2025 at the Travancore Devaswom Board’s head office in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Special Commissioner’s report highlighted the need to strictly follow guidelines previously issued in various High Court orders between 2018 and 2024 to avoid any deviation in the selection process. Concerns were also raised about potential disparities in the award of interview marks by Thanthries, with reference to earlier observations by a court-appointed Observer in 2019-20. The Special Commissioner sought directions to reinforce procedural safeguards and oversight.
The Division Bench examined the legal framework governing the appointment of Melsanthies for the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple and Malikappuram Temple. Referring to earlier rulings, the Court stated that “the Travancore Devaswom Board, being a statutory body within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution, cannot make arbitrary selections. The process must be conducted strictly in accordance with the terms of settlement approved by the Apex Court.”
The Bench emphasized the continued relevance of the Supreme Court’s order dated 6 September 2011, observing that “the selection process for Melsanthies, including the interview, shortlisting, and final draw of lots, must be carried out under the framework laid down in the mediated Terms of Settlement accepted by the Apex Court.”
In reviewing the Sabarimala Special Commissioner’s report, the Bench recorded that “the interview for selection of Melsanthies of Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple and Malikappuram Temple for the year 1201 M.E. (2025–26) shall be conducted in accordance with the order of the Apex Court dated 06.09.2011 and the guidelines and directions issued in the previous orders of this Court.”
Acknowledging concerns about discrepancies in the awarding of interview marks by various Thanthries in earlier years, the Court noted that “it would be better if the Observer is directed to file a report before the lots are taken, so that the mark list can be verified by this Court, in order to ensure that the interview was conducted in a fair manner.”
The Bench further stressed transparency in the final stage of the selection, recording that “the Senior Raja of the Pandalam Royal Family shall depute a male child not above 10 years to draw the lot for the Melsanthi of Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple and a female child not above 10 years to draw the lot for the Melsanthi of Malikappuram Temple.”
The Court also endorsed procedural safeguards, stating that “the presence of an independent Observer and the requirement for videographing the proceedings will serve to ensure that the entire process is conducted in a fair and transparent manner.”
The Court appointed former Justice T.R. Ramachandran Nair as Observer to oversee the interviews and the draw of lots, directing the Travancore Devaswom Board to provide necessary conveyance and accommodation.
It ordered that “the entries in the mark sheet shall be made only by using a ballpoint pen. The mark sheets shall be countersigned by the Observer and shall be kept in the safe custody of the Commissioner of the Travancore Devaswom Board.”
“The entire proceedings scheduled to be held on 03.10.2025 and 04.10.2025 at the Travancore Devaswom Board Head Office, Thiruvananthapuram, shall be videographed.”
“All materials, including the Observer’s report, shall be placed before this Court on or before 13.10.2025. The lots may be taken subject to further orders. With the above observations the SSCR is disposed of.
Advocates Representing the Parties
For the Respondents: Advocate S. Rajmohan, Senior Government Pleader, Advocate G. Biju, Standing Counsel, Advocate Sayujya Radhakrishnan, Standing Counsel
Case Title: Suo Motu v. State of Kerala and Ors.
Neutral Citation: 2025:KER:72399
Case Number: SSCR No. 24 of 2025
Bench: Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar
