The Kerala High Court has called for a fully fledged and full food testing laboratory at Pamba to ensure the quality of food served at the Sabarimala temple, including sacred offerings like Aravana and Appam.
Court raises concerns over off-site testing
A Division Bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and KV Jayakumar noted that the existing facility at Pamba lacks the capacity for detailed and continuous testing. Samples currently must be transported to labs in Pathanamthitta or Thiruvananthapuram, a process the court described as inadequate for maintaining food safety standards. The court observed that such an arrangement was not enough to ensure fast and effective quality control of the food items at Sabarimala.
“We are of the considered view that it is high time that a fully fledged and full food testing laboratory is established at Pamba itself, so that the requisite tests can be conducted there without delay, thereby ensuring strict compliance with food safety standards,” the court stated in its August 14 order. The bench directed the state government to assess the feasibility of setting up the lab, including infrastructure, manpower, and a timeline for implementation.
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Petition highlights need for SOP
The court’s intervention came during hearings on a petition filed by Dr. Mahendra Kumar PS and a suo motu case on food safety at Sabarimala. Dr. Kumar sought directions for the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and other authorities to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the procurement, quality checking and analysis of food items at Sabarimala.
During the hearing, counsel for the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) told the court that an inspection at Sabarimala on August 11 could not be completed as the temple remained closed. FSSAI submitted that its officers would conduct a detailed inspection immediately after the re-opening of the temple and place a full report before the court. The TDB’s counsel informed the court about the limitations of the food laboratory currently functioning at Pamba, prompting the court to suggest the establishment of a full-fledged facility.
Next steps and legal representation
The matter will return to court on September 14, by which time the state is expected to respond to the court’s suggestion. Advocates KR Rajkumar, Jagadeesh Lakshman, Aromalunni MS, RK Rakesh, Nandana Babu T, and Sreelakshmi PS appeared for the petitioner. Standing counsel G Biju appeared for the TDB, while Chithra P George represented FSSAI.
