Kerala High Court appoints retired judge to monitor selection of chief priests at Sabarimala

The Kerala High Court recently appointed retired High Court judge, Justice TR Ramachandran Nair as an observer to monitor the upcoming selection of Melsanthis (chief priests) at the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha temple and the Malikappuram temple in Sabarimala [Suo Motu v State of Kerala]..A Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar, issued the direction in a suo motu case concerning transparency in the chief priest selection process. "We appoint Mr. Justice T.R. Ramachandran Nair, a former Judge of this Court, as the 'Observer' and request him to oversee the proceedings for selection of Melsanthies of Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple and Malikappuram Temple, for the year 1201 ME (2025-2026) at the Travancore Devaswom Board Head Office, Thiruvananthapuram. We also request him to be there in Sabarimala at the time of the draw of lots. We direct the Travancore Devaswom Board to arrange necessary conveyance and accommodation for the Observer," the September 29 ruling said. .The suo motu case was initiated based on the Sabarimala Special Commissioner's report which dealt with the steps required to ensure transparency and strict adherence to guidelines already laid down in selecting chief priests.The Bench acknowledged that courts should be slow to intervene in religious matters unless there are constitutional violations.However, it emphasised that judicial oversight was necessary in certain aspects to maintain the sanctity of the priest selection process and to preserve the faith of devotees..The selection process for the appointment of Melsanthis at Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha and Malikappuram temples, which fall under the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), include the steps of shortlisting candidates after interviews and a final selection process by a draw of lots in front of the sanctum sanctorum.This process has been contested in the past and orders have been passed by the Supreme Court and the High Court, laying down guidelines to ensure fairness including guidelines on the constitution of the Selection Committee, allocation of marks, and interview procedures..The High Court, noted that this year, 119 applications were received out of which 53 candidates who sought to become priests at the main Sabarimala temple and 36 who applied to join the Malikappuram temple were cleared for interview.To ensure the compliance of guidelines already laid down for the selection process, the Court appointed former Justice TR Ramachandran Nair as an observer to monitor both the interviews and the draw of lots at Sabarimala..The Court also recounted that in 2019, another Observer had highlighted disparities in marks awarded by different Thanthries during interviews.To minimise such differences, the Court has now directed that marks must be entered only with ballpoint pens, that they be countersigned by the Observer and then kept under the custody of the Devaswom Commissioner.The Court added all these proceedings must be video-graphed and that the CDs, marksheets and shortlist of candidates must be produced before the Court along with a report from the observer, in a sealed cover by October 13, 2025.Only after the Court reviews these materials, would the draw of lots be held, the Bench said."(In 2019, it was suggested by the then-Observer that) it would be better if the Observer is directed to file a report before the lots are taken, so that the mark list can be verified by this Court, in order to ensure that the interview was conducted in a fair manner. That suggestion is made with a bona fide intention to ensure that an upper hand is not actually given to any particular candidate by anyone by granting excessive marks," the Court explained. It proceeded to order, "After the production of the mark lists, shortlist and the CD of the selection proceedings, Travancore Devaswom Board may proceed with the draw of lots, subject to orders to be passed by this Court on perusal of the report of the Observer, the short list and the CD of the selection proceedings."The Court also directed the Pandalam Royal family to send a young boy and girl to draw lots for the Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples, respectively, as per custom, and directed the TDB to arrange necessary facilities for the observer's accommodation and transport. .Senior government pleader S Rajmohan appeared for the State.Advocate G Biju represented the Travancore Devaswom Board..[Read Judgment]