The Kerala High Court has called for stronger and faster food safety monitoring at Sabarimala, saying Pamba should have a fully equipped food testing laboratory capable of handling comprehensive checks on offerings and other food products supplied to pilgrims.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar observed that the existing testing arrangements at Pamba were inadequate for carrying out detailed and continuous analysis.
At present, food samples requiring further examination are being sent to laboratories in Pathanamthitta or Thiruvananthapuram. The Court noted that transporting samples outside Pamba could delay the testing process and weaken the effectiveness of quality-control measures.
The Bench said the time had come for a comprehensive facility to be established at Pamba itself, allowing the necessary tests to be conducted without avoidable delay and ensuring compliance with food safety requirements.
The Court has directed the State government to examine whether such a facility can be established and submit details on the infrastructure, staffing and other resources that would be required. The government has also been asked to indicate how soon the proposed laboratory could become operational.
The issue came before the Court in proceedings arising from a petition filed by Dr Mahendra Kumar PS, along with a suo motu case concerning food safety arrangements at Sabarimala.
The petition sought, among other measures, a Standard Operating Procedure for the procurement, quality assessment and testing of food products at the temple. Particular attention has been drawn to Aravana and Appam, the traditional offerings distributed to devotees.
During the proceedings, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India informed the Court that its officials had visited Sabarimala for an inspection on August 11. The exercise, however, could not be completed because the temple was closed that day.
FSSAI informed the Court that a detailed inspection would be undertaken once the temple reopened, following which a comprehensive report would be submitted.
The Travancore Devaswom Board also brought the limitations of the existing Pamba laboratory to the Court’s notice. Against this backdrop, the Bench raised the possibility of establishing a fully fledged facility at Pamba rather than relying on laboratories located elsewhere.
The State is expected to place its response before the Court when the matter comes up next on September 14.
