Kerala HC Flags Missing Gold Details in Sabarimala Idol Cladding

Quick Summary

• Kerala High Court Investigation: the court is probing discrepancies in official records from 2009 and 2019 concerning gold used for cladding the Dwarapalaka sculptures at Sabarimala temple. Concerns were raised over missing details about the gold.
• Court Directives: The Superintendent of Police has been directed to submit detailed records related to:

– Quantity of gold used in 1999 cladding.
– Handover documents from 2019 plating process.
– Role of sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty, details of artisans involved, and recovery/reuse methods for the gold.

• Sponsor Permissions: in a case initiated suo motu based on a report by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner, it was found that Mr. Potty was allowed by Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) in 2019 to re-clad Dwarapalaka idols with copper plates initially believed to be gold-cladded but undocumented in this very way during removal.
• concerns on Second Gold-Plated Set: A second set allegedly stored in the strong room remains unverified despite prior communications suggesting its existence; further inquiry required.
• Gold Cladding Techniques Investigated:

– Conventional methods using substantial amounts of pure gold sheets (22-24k).
– Nano Tech Golden Deposition (NTGD), an ultra-thin layering technique applied by Smart Creations, Chennai.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The Kerala High court’s scrutiny into the missing documentation regarding gold cladding at Sabarimala represents not just an investigative step but also underscores broader questions about clarity within temple governance. The lack of accurate records raises accountability concerns for travancore devaswom Board’s operational oversight.Given Sabarimala’s cultural and religious importance, ensuring proper auditing aligns with preserving public trust.

The inquiry highlights potential tensions between traditional craftsmanship-which uses durable thick layers of pure-gold cladding suited to Kerala’s conditions-and modern techniques offering thinner alternatives with perhaps less longevity. This issue may provoke important dialogues around balancing heritage conservation alongside cost-efficiency or modernization trends.

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