A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court, comprising Justices V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and K.V. Jayakumar, ordered the state government to submit a detailed response by July 27 regarding the appointment of Kandararu Brahmadathan, son of Kandararu Rajeevaru, as the Tantri (chief priest) of the Sabarimala temple.

Rajeevaru had previously sought relief from his duties citing ill health and was also named an accused in the high‑profile Sabarimala gold theft case. In a letter to the Travancore Devaswom Board, he requested that his son succeed him as Tantri.

The court’s directive comes after reviewing a report filed by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner. The ruling underscores the need for transparent and rule‑based selection processes for religious leadership positions, highlighting the delicate balance between judicial oversight and religious administration.