The Sabarimala Temple opens the monthly Puja on Tuesday. Dwaraphalaks are also observed from which golden copper leaves were removed. | PHOTO CREDIT: LIJA KAMAL
The Keral High Court, referring to the discrepancies between the official records of 2009 and the 2019 transmission documents, raised concerns about the “missing details” of the gold, which was used to clarify the Dwarapalaka idols at the Sabarimala Church.
He focused on giving clarity in this matter, the divisional bench of justice Raja VijayaraGhavan V and the judiciary KV Jayakumar ordered the police supervisors to submit all records concerning gold. It also sought documents showing the amount of gold used in 1999 for dwarraphalakas, details of the sponsor and the involved craftsman, the quantity used for placing in 2019, the gold needed for the ongoing recovery process and recovery and re -use of gold. Records concerning the second set of Dwarapalakas are reportedly maintained in a strong room were also sought.
It occurred when the court considered the SUO Motu case initiated in a report by the special Commissioner Sabarimal about the separation of gold plates (to Chennai) without prior court.
The records show that copper plates covering Dwarapalakas were a gold sanction TravanCore Devaswom Board (TDB) in 1999. Flack that happened. Sreekovil.
The twelve copper plates weighing 25,400 kg, which covered Dwarapalakas, were removed and entrusted to a sponsor for placing gold. Mahazar has a signature of Mr. Potty, but only refers to “copper plates” and does not mention the current golden sheathing. This is unusual and requires a detailed investigation, the court noted.
September 12, 2025, the court ordered the main alertness and security officer to see if another set of golden dwarapalakas were stored in a strong room. Communication in 2024 indicated that Mr. Potty was aware of the second assembly coated with gold. However, the officer stated that no such file was found during the preliminary verification. Further investigation is required, the court said.
The Court also asked that if Dwarapalakas were gold in 1999 with the traditional methods of persuading TDB to allow Mr. Potty to submit them to the golden plating, by taking them to Chennai and without searching for the court, he requires investigation. If copper plates have been really dressed in gold, there must be records that documented the same, including the exact amount of gold used because traditional methods have been followed.
Traditional golden cladding includes preparation of the base for gold leaves or cladding, where craftsmen hammering extremely thin leaves of almost pure gold (22–24k) and wrap them over copper surfaces. The leaves are burnt and cold welded to form a solid gold surface. The required amount of gold is considerable and the thickness provides durability against Keral’s monsoon, salinity and ritual abrasion. In contrast, intelligent creations, Chennai, apply Nano Technical Deposition (NTGD), which only stores the ultrathy layer of gold.
Published – 17 September 2025 12:20 IS
