Kerala High Court Approves P. S. Santhakumar as Sabarimala Executive Officer

The Kerala High Court has approved the appointment of P. S. Santhakumar , the current Director of Cultural Affairs , as the Executive Officer of the Sabarimala temple for the 2026–2027 term. The court permitted him to assume charge with effect from July 16 , following an application filed by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) .

The order was passed by a Division Bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K. V. Jayakumar , which found no legal impediment to the appointment after examining Santhakumar's service record and the Board's submissions.

The appointment comes against the backdrop of the High Court's earlier scrutiny of O. G. Biju's continued retention in various positions at Sabarimala. During previous proceedings, the court had questioned Biju's prolonged tenure and directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to ensure that only efficient, competent, and upright officers are posted as Administrative Officers and Executive Officers in major temples under its management.

Acting on the court's observations, the TDB sought permission to transfer Biju and appoint Santhakumar as his successor. Before approving the request, the court considered an inquiry conducted by the Chief Security and Vigilance Officer (Superintendent of Police) of the Board's Vigilance and Security Wing into Santhakumar's credentials.

The Bench noted that no adverse findings had been recorded during Santhakumar's previous tenure as Administrative Officer of Sabarimala . It also observed that the Audit Wing had examined audit reports from the relevant period and found no pending recovery against him. The TDB further informed the court that no outstanding dues were payable by Santhakumar.

Satisfied with the findings, the High Court allowed the Board's application, paving the way for Santhakumar to take charge as the Executive Officer of one of Kerala's most prominent pilgrimage centres ahead of the 2026–27 term.