HC admits writ seeking probe into Aravana issue

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, DEC. 22. A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Friday admitted a writ seeking a direction to the State Government to order a crime branch inquiry into the incidents of detecting foreign elements in the Aravana distributed at Sabarimala.

The petition was filed by Mr. S. Jayakrishnan of Changanassery. The petitioner pointed out that when the news about the presence of rodents came out, the Travancore Devaswom Board had only made a statement denying the allegations. No sufficient explanation from any corner or from the Board had been offered.

They could not make out whether the news about the presence of rodents was true or not. Meanwhile, an expert had reported that the tail was a shrew's tail. The TDB said that it had requested the State Government to depute an appropriate agency to inquire into the incident.

However, no agency had been deputed to inquire into the matter. The respondents, including the TDB, were duty bound to maintain the sanctity and high quality of prasadam at Sabarimala.

In fact, the Board was responsible for taking appropriate steps in the matter. However, instead of taking a decision either to remove the contractor or take any other steps, the president and the members of the Board had only made their individual remarks on the issue.

In fact, the Board should have taken action against the Panchami Packs. Their contract should have been suspended immediately after the news about the presence of rat tail came out. Though there had been reports about the Aravana being set on fire, the company had not given any sufficient explanation on this issue.

The inaction of the Board to take immediate action against the contractor clearly indicated the incompetence of the president and members of the Board. Therefore, these members were not fit to hold their office and should be removed.

The petitioner also sought a direction to the State Government and the Board to supply good quality of Appam and Aravana which did not have any foreign elements in it.

It was also prayed that a direction be issued to the TDB to cancel the Panchami Pack's contract for making Aravana and Appam at Sabarimala.

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Section  : Southern States
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