The Kerala High Court has issued a series of stringent directives concerning the administration and crowd management at the famed Sabarimala temple. The bench, comprising Justices V Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar, has explicitly forbidden the entry of unauthorised individuals into the temple's sacred vault, the bhandaram, under any circumstances.
Strict Ban on Unauthorised Bhandaram Access
The court's order came in response to a report submitted by the temple's executive officer. The report detailed an incident on December 11 where police officers, led by Joint Police Coordinator S Shyamsundar, entered the bhandaram. This entry occurred irrespective of whether the officers were in uniform or civil dress. The High Court expressed strong disapproval of this breach and directed the government pleader to ensure such incidents are not repeated.
Furthermore, acknowledging the procedural challenges in handling offerings, the bench noted an inadequacy of staff for counting cash and valuables. To prevent delays and lapses, the court ordered the executive officer to depute a sufficient number of competent personnel exclusively for this critical task.
Pilgrim Management and Counter Misuse
In a related matter concerning pilgrim facilities, the court addressed a separate report from the Sabarimala special commissioner. The report highlighted a misuse of facilities at Nilackal, the base camp. Despite seven counters being earmarked exclusively for pilgrims, one was found reserved for police personnel and their guests. The bench firmly stated that such preferential treatment could not be countenanced and sought instructions from the state government on the issue. The petition has been adjourned to January 9 for further hearing.
Daily Pilgrim Cap Reinforced After Overcrowding
Addressing critical crowd control issues, the High Court reinforced its earlier order capping the total number of pilgrims permitted to reach Sannidhanam (the main temple complex) at 5,000 per day. This limit applies across all trekking routes and includes spot bookings. The directive was issued to the chief police coordinator and forest officials for strict compliance.
This order was based on the special commissioner's report which noted a massive, unregulated influx of pilgrims via the Vandiperiyar-Sathram-Pullumedu trekking path. Due to the overwhelming numbers, officials were forced to allow entry even to pilgrims without the mandatory Virtual-Q pass or spot-booking pass. The government pleader informed the court that approximately 18,000 pilgrims used this route on December 4 and around 17,000 on December 6, far exceeding the stipulated limit.
Consequently, the court reiterated that the chief police coordinator and the Travancore Devaswom Board must ensure that only pilgrims with a valid Virtual-Q booking or a spot-booking pass for the specific date and time slot are allowed entry to Sannidhanam. These measures aim to restore order, ensure safety, and preserve the sanctity of the pilgrimage.
