Kerala Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan slammed the Kerala High Court for “excessive interference” in the affairs of the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple and other temples in the State.Speaking at a public event on Sunday (July 12, 2026), he said that the time has come to rethink whether the court should interfere in all such matters, thus limiting the role of the Devaswom Boards and devotees. Many of the interventions are taking place in a way that undermines the autonomy of the temples and the rights of the believers, he said.‘Discussion needed’“There is no freedom for the Devaswom Board or the government to take independent decisions in Sabarimala. The High Court is directly giving instructions even on ritual matters like which flower to use in temples. It is time for a serious discussion in society regarding the extent of the court’s intervention in the ritual and administrative matters of temples,” he said.Mr. Muraleedharan said that he had already raised the issue in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, where MLAs and Ministers can openly express their opinions. When similar opinions are expressed outside the Assembly, the Minister pointed out that there is a possibility of contempt of court instead of democratic discussions. Even then, he urged the boards and devotees to stand together, considering the seriousness of the issue.The Minister also expressed concern that the report of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the Sabarimala gold theft is yet to see the light of the day. At this rate, the investigation will not be completed anytime soon, he said. Published - July 12, 2026 07:37 pm IST