Kerala High Court Directs Action Over Excessive Cloakroom Charges at Sabarimala | Travancore Devaswom Board Ordered to Enforce Tender Conditions and Prevent Revenue Leakages
Isabella Mariam
The High Court of Kerala Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K. V. Jayakumar delivered its judgment on August 26, 2025, directing the Travancore Devaswom Board to take strict measures against unauthorized collection of locker charges at Pamba, Sabarimala. The Court held that amounts in excess of prescribed rates were being collected by the kuthaka holder in violation of tender conditions and directed the Board to ensure corrective measures. The Bench ordered strict action against the violator, mandated multilingual display of prescribed rates, and instructed blacklisting measures against repeated offenders. The Court concluded that effective vigilance was essential to prevent malpractices and protect devotees from exploitation.
The suo motu proceedings arose on April 11, 2025, based on an anonymous complaint submitted to the Chief Justice of Kerala. The complaint alleged unauthorized collection of locker charges at Pamba, Sabarimala, resulting in substantial revenue loss to the Travancore Devaswom Board. According to the complaint, only one locker room was available at Pamba, and devotees were charged ₹100 per bag without receipts or vouchers. It was alleged that nearly fifty lakh pilgrims visited the hill shrine during the Mandala season between November 15, 2024, and January 25, 2025, and that the financial loss was significant.
The matter was referred to the Devaswom Bench for directions. The respondents in the case included the State of Kerala represented by the Principal Secretary to Government, Revenue (Devaswom) Department, the Chief Police Coordinator at Sabarimala, the Travancore Devaswom Board represented by its Secretary, the Devaswom Commissioner, the Executive Officer, Sabarimala, and the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board.
The Standing Counsel for the Travancore Devaswom Board submitted that the kuthaka right for the cloakroom and the viri stall was granted to Sri Shyam Sasidharan Nair for a consideration of ₹1,28,44,444. Under the tender terms, the charge for a locker was ₹30 per 24 hours, and the fee for space for placing viri was fixed at ₹50 per head.
It was further submitted that a devotee, Abhishek Kumar M. M., lodged a complaint at Pamba Police Station alleging that the kuthaka holder, Sri Shyam Sasidharan Nair, charged him ₹100 for the cloakroom facility. The police forwarded the complaint to the Executive Officer of the Board, who in turn issued a notice to the kuthaka holder directing him to adhere to the permissible rates and treat devotees courteously. It was also submitted that after the notice, no further complaints were received and that a display board indicating prescribed rates had been installed at the site. Photographs of the display board were also produced before the Court.
The Court considered the complaint from Abhishek Kumar and the anonymous complaint from a devotee from Telangana. It recorded that while the Board issued a warning to the kuthaka holder, vouchers or receipts were still not being issued to devotees, creating the possibility of continued revenue loss. The Court noted that the display board produced was in the vernacular language and small in size, insufficient to communicate rates to devotees from across India.
The Division Bench recorded its observations after considering the submissions of both sides. The Court stated: "The kuthaka right for the cloakroom and stall was given to Sri. Shyam Sasidharan Nair for an amount of Rs. 1,28,44,444/-. It appears that complaints had already been received regarding the collection of excess amounts for the use of the cloakroom and stall."
The Court noted the nature of the complaints and remarked: "The anonymous complaint has been lodged by a devotee from Telangana."
It also acknowledged: "When the Travancore Devaswom Board received a complaint from one Abhishek Kumar, dated 11.04.2025, the only step taken was to direct the kuthaka holder to collect only the permissible amount."
In reference to the notice board, the Court stated: "From the photographs received, it appears that the Board had allegedly exhibited a notice in front of the locker room and stall; however, the same is in the vernacular language and is very small in size."
The Bench observed the inadequacy of such a measure considering the scale of pilgrim influx: "During the Mandala Mahotsavam, devotees from various other states would also visit the temple premises. It is reported that approximately 50 lakh devotees visit Sabarimala during the festive season spanning from November to January."
The Court also noted the lack of receipts: "Presently, vouchers or receipts are not being issued to pilgrims for payments made in respect of the cloakroom and stalls. This raises the likelihood of substantial revenue loss to the Travancore Devaswom Board."
On unauthorized collections, the Bench observed: "Moreover, amounts in excess of the permissible rates, as stipulated in the terms and conditions of the tender, are being collected by the Kuthaka holder."
The Division Bench therefore concluded that the Travancore Devaswom Board’s existing measures were insufficient to address the malpractice, and more effective action was necessary.
In its final pronouncement, the Court directed multiple measures to ensure accountability and prevent further malpractices. The Bench stated: "Strict action shall be initiated against the Kuthaka holder, Sri Shyam Sasidharan Nair, for collecting amounts in excess of the permissible limits, in violation of the terms and conditions of the tender."
The Court ordered the Travancore Devaswom Board to ensure proper communication of prescribed charges to devotees: "The Travancore Devaswom Board shall ensure that boards displaying the prescribed rates for the cloakroom and stalls are prominently exhibited in front of the respective shops, in English, Malayalam, and other regional languages, to facilitate and inform the devotees."
The Bench further mandated punitive measures against repeated violators: "Urgent steps shall be initiated against the violators of the terms and conditions of the kuthaka tender, including proceedings for blacklisting them."
To prevent recurrence of malpractice, the Court placed responsibility on vigilance authorities: "The Chief Vigilance Officer of Travancore Devaswom Board shall take effective steps to avoid the malpractices by the kuthaka holders."
Advocates Representing the Parties
For the Respondents: Adv. S. Rajmohan, Senior Government Pleader; Adv. G. Biju, Standing Counsel
Case Title: Suo Motu vs State of Kerala & Others
Neutral Citation: 2025: KER:64812
Case Number: DBP No. 53 of 2025
Bench: Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V, Justice K. V. Jayakumar
