Thiruvananthapuram: An investigation by Kerala’s IT Secretary has reportedly flagged serious procedural lapses in the award of a ₹70-crore contract to digitalise temples under the Travancore Devaswom Board, including Sabarimala. According to reports, a team led by a former managing director of KITFRA secured the contract without the knowledge of the organisation’s board of directors.
Expressing concern over the findings, the Devaswom Minister has written to the Travancore Devaswom Board, directing it to urgently review the contract. The board had planned to digitise transactions at Sabarimala and other temples, with the aim of replacing the existing receipt system with a fully digital process. The initiative was expected to improve transparency and help reduce complaints related to financial irregularities. However, questions have now emerged over whether the prescribed procedures were followed while awarding the ₹70-crore contract.
According to the reported findings, officials, including KITFRA’s former managing director, participated in the tender process without informing the organisation’s board of directors. There are also reports that the former managing director and general manager, among others, resigned from the institution after the contract was awarded. Complaints regarding the project’s procedures reportedly emerged after the digitisation work began. Questions were also raised about whether the project had received the necessary government approval.
The investigation is said to have found that the contract was secured without the knowledge of KITFRA’s officially constituted governing body, allegedly through a project management unit formed for the purpose. The Devaswom Secretary reportedly submitted a report to the minister highlighting the alleged lapses. The report reportedly states that the Devaswom Board had neither sought nor received government approval for the Sabarimala digitisation project. Concerns have also been raised about the possibility of serious data leaks linked to the initiative.
In his letter, the Devaswom Minister has called for the project to be implemented through an authorised agency. The minister has also sought a review of the existing contract if procedural violations are established. The Travancore Devaswom Board, meanwhile, has maintained that the contract was finalised only after inspections at various stages. The board’s governing body has also stated that the digitisation project will be completed only after addressing the concerns raised and securing the necessary approvals from the government and the court.
The controversy has brought the contract-awarding process, government approval requirements and data security arrangements for the digitisation of Sabarimala and other temples under scrutiny.
