The Kerala High Court has taken serious note of reports that synthetic kumkum continues to be sold to Sabarimala devotees despite its clear prohibition, observing that such activity “cannot be permitted under any circumstances.”

A bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar said the continued sale appeared to be an attempt to circumvent the court’s earlier directions. The judges noted that prima facie the main distributor supplying the material was a firm named Ideal Enterprises . The court has issued notices to the firm as well as Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Ltd , a laboratory alleged to have issued certificates to various vendors selling kumkum distributed by the firm.

Both entities have been directed to submit their responses before the next hearing scheduled on

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