The Kerala High Court in a suo motu case has constituted a team comprising drug inspectors to inspect and submit a lab report on the quality of ‘kumkum’ supplied for devotees of Sabarimala Temple considering the allegations of synthetic.

Kumkum is a red-coloured powder used in Hindu rituals and is identical to Sindoor.

On December 8, Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar heard the suo motu case following allegations levelled by the Erumeli Gram Panchayat that synthetic kumkum was being supplied to the temple devotees despite the clear prohibition.

“The photographs placed before us, it is evident that most of the vendors are selling kumkum kept openly in large vessels, sacks, and bags,” the court said.

The panchayat had alleged that apart from the “indiscriminate sale”

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