The Kerala High Court has directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to implement the proposal by the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner to improve the security, conservation, storage, and transfer of Thiruvabharanam (sacred ornaments) in Devaswoms under the Board.
The Commissioner proposed a digital database for each Thiruvabharanam, including a unique asset number, name of the Devaswom, register number, weight, type of metal, gemstone number, photographs, current storage location and custodian, and transfer and inspection history. He also suggested that, subject to expert recommendations, a QR code or RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) system could be implemented. He also recommended a three-layer storage system and categorising Thiruvabharanam according to size.
Suggestions for digital location mapping, digital tracking of Thiruvabharanam, monitoring transfers during festivals, and upgrading strong room security systems were also put forward by the Commissioner. He recommended periodic inspection and audits of the articles, and a procedure for the management of unserviceable and damaged gold and silver Thiruvabharanam among other things.
The Division Bench of Justices V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and K.V. Jayakumar had previously noted irregularities in the registers of Thiruvabharanam, Bharanipathram, and Pattuparivattam. The court had directed the Commissioner to coordinate with the project management unit in charge of developing a comprehensive software for the Board, to ensure transparency in transactions and maintenance related to Thiruvabharanam and related articles.
The Board stores the Thiruvabharanam of various Devaswoms in 17 strong rooms. Thiruvabharanam includes gold and silver ornaments, some studded with precious stones, crowns, Prabhamandalams, Chattams, elephant decorations, and festival articles. The Commissioner noted that the articles are stored in plastic covers and old wooden boxes, with an unclear numbering system, and pointed out that the security and conservation of Thiruvabharanam should be made more scientific and professional. He reported that certain Thiruvabharanam is kept in the ‘Sreekovil’ (sanctum sanctorum) under the custody of the Melshanthi (chief priest).
The Commissioner informed the court that register numbers assigned to each article were often difficult to identify, several articles were stored together, digital records were unavailable, and tracking the transfer of Thiruvabharanam during festivals was difficult.
