Non-transparent accounts, audit that drags on for five years: High Court asks Devaswom Board to show gratitude at least to God

KOCHI: When the High Court asked if Devaswom knew whose money it was receiving, the Devaswom Deputy Commissioner replied that it was the people's money. The court said that the money was being given in the name of God and that Devaswom should at least show gratitude to the Lord. The High Court expressed its deep dissatisfaction and shock at the disorderly conduct of the Travancore Devaswom Board.

There is an irregularity of 40 lakhs even in the Nilakkal petrol pump in the name of Swami Ayyappan. The audit of a single financial year is being delayed for five years due to the non-submission of documents. The Devaswom bench, comprising Justices V Raja Vijayaraghavan and KV Jayakumar, was considering petitions related to the shortfall in collection from the Nilakkal pump and the delay in pension of a retired officer due to audit obstruction.

Transparency should be ensured in the accounts of the board. This requires comprehensive digitalisation. The technical committee should meet immediately. Transparent software should be set up and informed within a month. It was while suggesting these matters that the bench asked the Devaswom Deputy Commissioner in charge of computerisation, whose money the board receives.

The court had earlier assessed that the main reason for the discrepancy in the accounts is the continued use of paper vouchers. It had also directed that action be taken if those on the blacklist come for a contract.

Auditing is being done without a report

The Director of the Audit Department, who was present in person, explained the reason why the annual audit is taking up to five years. The report submitted will not contain many important documents. If asked, it would be said that they are lost. The 2020 audit is currently underway. The board has not submitted its annual report since 2021-22. There are 1,250 temples and other institutions under the board.

Digitization is not about posting photos

• The court also criticized the old method of saying that the National Informatics Center (NIC) will implement online money transactions
• Digitalization is not about posting photos of temples online. The court reminded that software suitable for 2025 is needed
• This was when the Deputy Commissioner informed that cyber expert Dr. Vinod Bhattathiripad has been appointed as the Chief Advisor to prepare a Tamil Nadu model
• The Tamil Nadu NIC officer and Dr. Vinod appeared in the video conference. They explained that the method of recording the offering money digitally
• The court said that this is a method from 15 years ago and a system that is not even capable of UPI transactions will not be effective