HC intervention to make sure TDB won’t Sabotage Makaravillakku season

Issue pamphlets on rituals, HC to TDB
Source:www.newindpress.com

KOCHI: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to make arrangements for issuing pamphlets containing the rituals and details at Sabarimala, as far as possible through sponsorship.

The court also directed the Additional Director-General of Police to issue tokens to pilgrims who go out of a queue for primary needs, so as to identify them as they return to the queue.

The TDB should ensure uninterrupted supply of Aravana Prasadam to the devotees.

The board should construct more temporary urinals and latrines on the side of the queue after identifying suitable places, to the extent possible.

Continued supply of drinking water to the pilgrims should be ensured during the festival time.

These directives were issued by the Bench, consisting of Justice P R Raman and Justice V K Mohanan while closing a report submitted by the special commissioner for Sabarimala identifying areas needing urgent action.

The court found that most of the suggestions made by the special commissioner had been complied with.

The special commissioner had pointed out that at Marakkoottam where the pilgrims are detained, there was no arrangement for the pilgrims.

At Sannidhanam and Nadappandal, pilgrims are being forced to remain in the queue for up to 10 hours from Saramkutty.

Non-availability of aravana prasadam is one of the reasons for the pilgrims’ misery. There was no efficient management of pilgrims by the police.

It had also been pointed out that there was no proper coordination between the police and the officials of other departments.

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