The Kerala High Court has directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to extend all necessary assistance to former Judge of Kerala High Court K.T. Sankaran to carry out the appraisal of valuables, including gold offerings made at the Sabarimala Temple that were kept in 80 sacks labelled “Kaniponnu” in the Aranmula strong room.The court also directed the Board’s standing counsel to apprise it of the procedure proposed to be adopted for the safe custody of valuable offerings received from devotees so that they can be appraised periodically and a comprehensive inventory maintained in digital form. The directions were issued after considering a report submitted by the Special Commissioner on the preparation of an inventory of valuables at the temple.The High Court had on September 29, 2025, appointed Justice K. T. Sankaran to undertake a comprehensive appraisal of all the articles entered in the Thiruvabharanam Register of the Sabarimala temple and those kept in the strong room. The Special Commissioner submitted that the appraisal is nearing completion.His report said that when the 80 sacks labelled “Kaniponnu” were opened on July 4 during the appraisal, they were found to contain not only gold and silver but also several other materials. It said a proper appraisal of the valuables would not be feasible unless the other materials in the sacks were first segregated.Accepting the submission of the TDB’s standing counsel that the Board would extend all necessary assistance for the exercise, the court directed the Board to facilitate the appraisal and the segregation of the materials contained in the sacks. The matter has been posted for further hearing on August 4. Published - July 09, 2026 08:29 pm IST