The Kerala High Court directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to establish a comprehensive, systematic, and preferably digitised inventory management system for every consumable and non‑consumable asset maintained at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam and its allied establishments. The order was published on 16 July 2026 in Kochi.

Background and Court Order

The directive was issued by a Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar while considering the approval of a contract to supply 1,000 double‑deck mild‑steel cots for daily‑wage staff at the Sannidhanam. The audit department raised several concerns, and the total estimated cost of the purchase was ₹1.66 crore, for which TDB had already granted administrative sanction.

Identified Procurement Lapses

The audit panel highlighted that, although the cots were to be sourced from a Tamil Nadu manufacturer, neither photographs nor detailed technical specifications were presented before the Ombudsman. Moreover, the tender process was initiated at the eleventh hour, raising serious questions about procedural fairness.

Mandate for Digital Transformation and Compliance

The court ordered the Chief Engineer and the Executive Engineer of the Sabarimala Development Project to ensure that the procurement of the beds adheres strictly to the approved technical specifications, the Store Purchase Manual, and all other public procurement norms. It also directed TDB to complete the ongoing digitisation under its Enterprise Digital Transformation Programme, guaranteeing that all inventory and asset registers are maintained digitally.

Potential Long‑Term Impact

This ruling is poised to set a precedent for transparency and accountability not only at Sabarimala but across other religious and public institutions in India. Successful implementation could lead to more efficient use of public funds, reduced corruption, and overall improvement in service delivery at the national level.