India, Sept. 11 -- In a setback to the Travancore Devaswom Board, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed it to bring back from Chennai the gold-plated copper sheets fitted above the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols in front of the Sabarimala sanctum sanctorum.
While considering the report of the court-appointed Sabarimala Special Commissioner, which stated that the sheets had been removed without the court's permission, the Devaswom Bench of the High Court strongly criticised the board and observed that it was "inappropriate to remove them without prior approval." The TDB manages the Lord Ayyappa temple, located within the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The Bench noted that orders already exist requiring prior sanction from the Special Comm...