Leak of Sabarimala e-auction details: TDB suspends head clerk
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has suspended a head clerk after a preliminary inquiry found that confidential tender information related to the e-auction of 110 shops at Sabarimala was leaked to contractors. The suspension follows the last-minute cancellation of the e-tender and e-auction process amid allegations of malpractice.
Background
The TDB had introduced an e-tender and e-auction system for the allotment of shops at Sabarimala with the stated aim of ensuring greater transparency and fairness in the process. The initiative covered 110 shop spaces. However, the exercise was halted after complaints surfaced alleging that sensitive bid information had been improperly accessed and shared.
Preliminary Findings
According to officials, an internal probe established that confidential bid details were photographed on mobile phones by some board personnel and passed on to regular contractors after the official deadline for submitting tenders had expired. The head clerk, identified as Rejimon, was placed under suspension after investigators traced the leak of tender information to his mobile phone.
The suspected malpractice came to light when a new contractor who had participated in the bidding process received a threat message on his phone. The incident prompted closer scrutiny of the conduct of officials involved in the auction procedures and the handling of confidential documents.
Investigation and Next Steps
TDB officials said further action would follow if the inquiry substantiates the involvement of additional personnel in the leak. The ongoing probe is focused on determining the extent of the breach and identifying all individuals who may have shared privileged tender details with external parties.
Scrap Collection Revamp
In a related administrative decision, the TDB has resolved to enter into an agreement with the Clean Kerala Company for the collection of metal scrap from Sabarimala and Pampa. The board has also cancelled a recently held auction for removing scrap from the two locations following several complaints about the conduct of that process.
The move to hand over scrap management to the Clean Kerala Company follows a recent government order authorising the company to collect metal waste from Sabarimala. Officials said the arrangement is intended to streamline waste handling and respond to concerns raised over the previous auction mechanism.
Significance
The suspension and the cancellation of the e-auction underscore the TDB’s response to integrity concerns surrounding the shop allotment process at Sabarimala. While the inquiry continues to determine the full scope of the leak, the board’s parallel decision to overhaul scrap collection signals a broader effort to strengthen transparency and administrative controls at the hill shrine and its associated facilities.
