The Kerala High Court has taken decisive action against the illegal trade of synthetic kumkum in and around the Sabarimala pilgrimage area. A bench comprising Justices V Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar has ordered multiple government agencies to conduct immediate inspections into the unlawful sale, storage, distribution, and even fraudulent laboratory certification of chemical-based kumkum.
Court Directs Multi-Agency Inspections
The court's directive came while it was reviewing a report submitted by the special commissioner for Sabarimala concerning facilities for devotees at various edathavalams (rest stops). The bench was informed that despite a prior ban, chemical kumkum continues to be sold widely in several kuthaka shops in the region.
The court issued specific orders to three key authorities. It instructed the environmental engineer of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board to inspect the Pamba River, Valiyathodu, and the Manimala River. This official must submit a detailed report on the presence of chemical kumkum in these water bodies and its detrimental impact on the riverine ecosystem.
Targeting the Supply Chain
During the proceedings, counsel for the Erumely panchayat highlighted that the banned product remains readily available. It was further submitted that the supply is being managed by a firm named Ideal Enterprises, based in Kothamangalam, Ernakulam district. Alarmingly, vendors were found to be producing a laboratory certificate allegedly issued by 'Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Limited – Laboratory', which operates from inside the FACT-CD campus in Ambalamedu, Kochi.
In response to this revelation, the court ordered a joint inspection. The Inspector of the Legal Metrology Department in Kothamangalam and the Drugs Inspector (Zone 3) from the Office of the Assistant Drugs Controller in Kakkanad, Ernakulam, have been tasked with examining the chemical kumkum stock at the premises and godown of Ideal Enterprises.
Background of the Ban and Ongoing Violations
This latest judicial intervention follows an earlier order where the High Court had explicitly banned the sale and use of chemical or synthetic kumkum at Sabarimala, Pamba, Nilackal, and Erumely. The ban was imposed due to serious concerns about both public health and environmental safety. The synthetic dyes and chemicals in these products can cause skin allergies and other health issues for devotees and pose a significant threat to the fragile ecosystem of the Pamba river basin.
The court has set a strict deadline for all reports, including the one from the pollution control board. All findings must be submitted before the court on Monday. This move underscores the judiciary's commitment to enforcing its orders and protecting both the welfare of millions of pilgrims and the sanctity of the natural environment surrounding the holy shrine.
