State Undertakes Before Kerala High Court To Ensure Uninterrupted Service Of Sanitation Workers At Sabarimala

The Government Pleader on Thursday (March 12) undertook before the Kerala High Court that uninterrupted service of sanitation workers shall be ensured at Sabarimala.The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar recorded the submission while considering a suo motu petition initiated on the basis of the Sabarimala Special Commissioner's report regarding financial malpractices of casual labourers and permanent duty staffs.On Wednesday, when the matter came up for consideration, the amicus curiae for the Special Commissioner had told the Court that certain sums were unpaid to the sanitation workers deployed through the Sabarimala Sanitation Society. The Court had then directed the Travancore Devaswom Board and the State to inform the reasons for the non-payment of the amounts. Accordingly, the next day, the Board told the Court that as on 05.02.2026, the total outstanding amount is Rs. 2,62,37,629/-, out of which a sum of Rs. 1,00,00,000/- has already been paid. It was also informed that upon receipt of the Utilisation Certificate and the connected bills, prompt payment will be effected.The government pleader appearing for the State submitted that the Utilisation Certificate, and connected bills, will be submitted to the Board by 13.03.2026 and thereupon, the amounts due to the Sanitation Society shall be disbursed.At this point, the amicus sought for a direction to ensure service of sanitation workers and the government pleader undertook that uninterrupted service of sanitation workers shall be ensured.In its March 11 order, the Court had also recorded the findings in the report submitted by the Chief Security and Vigilance officer pursuant to the Court's direction to conduct a detailed probe into the suspicious fund transfers by the staff employed at Sabarimala during the 2025-26 Mandala-Makaravilakku season.The Court had recorded that in the report it is stated that the amounts remitted through Post Office were allegedly obtained by employees during the course of their employment. It was also recorded that some employees receive consideration from devotees and some engage in sale of lottery tickets while performing other duties. Some individuals take away the coins and currency from the offering boxes or mixed with the pooja articles brought by the pilgrims, it is noted.It also noted that around ₹8 crores were remitted during a two-month period in SBI and ₹11 crores in Dhanalaxmi bank by Shanthis, Melshanthis, Keezhshanthis, daily wage employees and kuthaka holders.Details of around 18 individuals were placed before the Court, out of these, some of these were Shanthis and arrayed as accused in the case relating to embezzlement of money during Adiyasishtam ghee sales.The Vigilance officer had recommendation that only the required number of staff should be deployed at each duty point, and unnecessary crowding of employees should be avoided and also that additional police officers be deployed during monthly poojas to prevent pilferage of money from offerings.The standing counsel for the Board was then directed to obtain instructions with respect to the issues highlighted in the Vigilance officer's report. The Court also recorded his submission that the Board has formulated a mission plan under which specific duty points are proposed to be identified, and only the required number of personnel will be assigned to each point so as to prevent such irregularities in the future.The matter is posted on March 16 (Monday) for further consideration.Case No: SSCR No. 7 of 2026Case Title: Suo Motu v. State of Kerala and Ors.Counsel for the respondents: S. Rajmohan – Senior Government Pleader, G. Biju – Standing Counsel – Travancore Devaswom BoardAmicus Curiae for Sabarimala Special Commissioner: Sayujya RadhakrishnanClick to Read/Download Interim Order dated 12.03.2026Click to Read/Download Interim Order dated 11.03.2026

State Undertakes Before Kerala High Court To Ensure Uninterrupted Service Of Sanitation Workers At Sabarimala

K. Salma Jennath

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