Investigation ordered by Kerala High Court into the disappearance of gold from the temple plates at Sabarimala
Sabarimala Temple Gold Plates Discrepancy Under Investigation
The Kerala High Court has expressed concern over a shortage of gold plates in the Sabarimala temple, located in Pathanamthitta district. The temple, which stands 3,000 feet above sea level in the Western Ghats, draws millions of devotees each year.
In a recent hearing, the court questioned the Travancore Devaswom Board about why the weight of the gold plates was not verified again after they were reinstalled at the temple. The gold plates weighed 42kg when taken for gold plating work in 2019, but were four kg lighter when returned. This discrepancy was already recorded during the one-and-a-half months the plates were in custody.
Further doubts have been raised about how temple wealth is monitored and safeguarded. The court's remarks suggest concern that the shortage may not be a natural occurrence, as gold does not typically decrease in weight. Transparency and accountability are paramount in temple management, as observed by the bench.
The court has directed the Devaswom (temple governing board) Vigilance to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. This order comes following reports of 107 grams of gold disappearing from Kerala's Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
The court has also ordered the Travancore Devaswom Board to cooperate fully and verify whether the pedestals of the Dwarapalaka sculptures and other spare structures are secured in the strong room. The sanctity and trust associated with temple management cannot be compromised, according to the bench.
The Sabarimala gold plating project has faced scrutiny over its cost and execution in the past. The issue has raised concerns about accountability and security within the temple. The state government of Kerala, India, is responsible for the supervision and security of the gold treasure of the Sabarimala Temple.
The court has set a deadline of three weeks for the submission of the investigation report. The fresh revelations refer to a shortage of gold plates in the Sabarimala temple, and the court's order is a step towards ensuring the temple's wealth is managed responsibly and transparently.
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