The Kerala High Court has approved the appointment of P S Santhakumar as the new Executive Officer of the Sabarimala temple for the 2026–2027 term. Santhakumar, who currently serves as the Director of Cultural Affairs, replaces O G Biju, whose continued placement in various roles at Sabarimala had previously been questioned by the court.
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) proposed the transfer and replacement following a judicial directive. The high court had instructed the board to ensure that only efficient and upright officers are placed in administrative and executive positions across the major temples under its management.
Background And Judicial Directives
The transition was authorized by a division bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar. The decision follows previous observations from the court to the TDB regarding the selection criteria for key temple administrators. Following these judicial remarks, the board submitted a formal application to transfer Biju and appoint Santhakumar to the post.
Vigilance And Audit Clearance
Before sanctioning the appointment, the court reviewed an inquiry into Santhakumar’s professional history. The investigation, conducted by the Superintendent of Police who serves as the Chief Security and Vigilance Officer of the board’s Vigilance and Security Wing, yielded no adverse findings from Santhakumar’s previous tenure as the Administrative Officer of Sabarimala.
Furthermore, the TDB and its Audit Wing verified that Santhakumar has no outstanding financial liabilities. A review of past Sabarimala audit reports from Santhakumar’s prior tenure confirmed that there are no pending recoveries or unpaid dues attributed to him.
The court approved the board’s application, allowing Santhakumar to officially assume his new duties with effect from July 16.
