Sabarimala Chemical Kumkum Issue: Kerala High Court Impleads Environmental Engineer & Chief Govt Analyst, Orders Strict Vigilance

The Court has also directed the Drug Inspector and Inspection Team to remain vigilant and ensure routine and periodic inspections to identify shops engaged in the sale of chemical kumkum.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar issued the directions.

The bench had previously ordered an investigation into the distribution network and lab certification of chemical kumkum.

The court was informed that, pursuant to earlier directions, the Drug Inspector, Kottayam, conducted inspections of retail shops. While no unlabelled or unpacked kumkum was detected, officials seized about 959 packets of synthetic kumkum/colouring substances from a shop identified as M/s C.S. Stadium Cool Bar, Tea, Coffee and Stationery. The seized items were produced before the jurisdictional magistrate in accordance with law.

Emphasising public health concerns, the Bench directed drug inspectors and inspection teams to remain vigilant and proactive and to carry out routine and periodic inspections to identify establishments involved in the sale of synthetic kumkum, reiterating the need for continuous monitoring and strict enforcement

The court also examined the role of testing laboratory which is arrayed as the 34th respondent in the case. It noted that a report relied on by a private respondent laboratory did not pertain to chemical kumkum standards prescribed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, Cosmetic Rules, 2020, BIS Standard IS:10999, and the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, as only limited parameters were tested.

Taking note of submissions by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board that pilgrims often bring kumkum from outside the State and that its extensive use is noticed at Erumeli, the court suo motu impleaded the Environmental Engineer, District Office, Kottayam, as an additional respondent. The Environmental Engineer has been asked to coordinate with local authorities and suggest remedial and preventive measures.

Further, as the seized sample has been sent to the Drugs Testing Laboratory, Thiruvananthapuram, and the report is awaited, the Bench impleaded the Chief Government Analyst as an additional respondent. The Government Pleader has been directed to obtain specific instructions and inform the court whether the seized sample complies with statutory standards governing chemical kumkum, including packaging and legal metrology norms.

Given the limited duration of the pilgrimage season, the court ordered the Chief Government Analyst to expedite testing so that any statutory violations are identified promptly and corrective or enforcement measures can be taken without delay.

The matter has been posted on 9 January 2026 for further consideration.

Case Title: Suo Motu v Union Government and Ors

Case No: SSCR 29/ 2025

Counsel for Respondent: S Rajmohan (Sr. GP), G Biju (SC- TDB), Chithra Chandrasekharan , Haridas C N, V Premchand, Babu Joseph Kuruvathazha, Archana K S, Noel Ealias, T Naveen (SC - KSPCB), Babu Cherukara, Anzar Basheer, Jayachandran R