# Kerala HC asks Devaswom Board to avoid halal-marked jaggery at Sabarimala 2026-10-01T10:11:30+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets The Kerala High Court has directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to exercise caution while procuring ingredients for prasadam at Sabarimala, after a devotee objected to the use of 'halal-certified' jaggery in Aravana and Appam. The division bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar disposed of a 2021 petition by SJR Kumar, who argued that halal certification indicated preparation according to another community's beliefs and was unsuitable as a 'sattvic' offering. The court noted that the jaggery supplied by Vardhan Agro Processing Limited carried a halal mark because the Maharashtra-based manufacturer exported to Gulf countries. The court found no quality issue with the jaggery, noting that test reports showed it was satisfactory and contained no unsuitable substance. The TDB informed the court that the jaggery was procured through e-tender, and that the halal declaration was for export purposes. The court directed the board to incorporate conditions in future e-tender documents to ensure that supplies comply with both quality standards and religious customs at the temple. As of November 2021, 2.11 lakh kilogrammes of jaggery was in stock at Sannidhanam, according to the TDB. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The three reports all provide neutral, factual coverage of the High Court's order, with no discernible slant. ABP Live leads with the court's call for caution and mentions the quality clearance early. LiveLaw offers the most procedural detail, including the supplier's name and the food-safety officer's legal finding. The Hindu adds the stock figure of 2.11 lakh kg and the auction of spoiled jaggery, giving the fullest context. Across all versions, the coverage is uniform: the court found no quality violation but asked for future care on religious sensitivities. No source adopts a pro-government or critical stance on this administrative and religious matter. ## Coverage Coverage: 3 sources, 3 neutral - abplive.com (neutral report) Leads with court caution, mentions quality clearance in second paragraph - livelaw.in (neutral report) Includes supplier name, food-safety legal opinion, and full procedural details - thehindu.com (neutral report) Adds stock figure and auction detail, most comprehensive context This brief was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Update, 1 October 2026: this story now draws on 3 sources. Last updated 2026-10-01T10:38:37+00:00. Tags: halal jaggery, Kerala High Court, Sabarimala, SJR Kumar, Travancore Devaswom Board Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/kerala-hc-tells-sabarimala-board-to-avoid-halal-certified-jaggery/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/kerala-hc-tells-sabarimala-board-to-avoid-halal-certified-jaggery/#story-in-brief How this brief was made: an AI model read the reports linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. Stance labels are editorial classifications of how each outlet framed this story, assigned by the same model, not ratings of the outlets. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/