Sabarimala Crowd Management: Kerala HC Issues Slew Of Directions, Asks Police Authorities To Ensure KSRTC Bus Availability

It had issued a slew of guidelines on 12^th November to the Travancore Devaswom Board, police and the enforcement officers of the Motor Vehicle Department for managing the crowd of pilgrims at Sabarimala.

The Division Bench comprising, Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice G. Girish directed the State Police Chief to be vigilant over crowd management at Sabarimala and ordered thus:

“We deem it appropriate to direct the 2nd respondent State Police Chief to have a constant vigil over crowd management activities in connection with Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season of 1199 ME. The State Police Chief shall collect regular inputs on crowd management from the Chief Police Co-ordinator, Sannidhanam and also the Special Police Officers at Nilakkal, Pamba and Erumeli.”

The Court passed the above order in a suo moto petition considering the report of the Special Commissioner, Sabarimala regarding crowd management during the Mandala- Makaravilakku festival season.

Yesterday, the Court also took note of a complaint which was sent by email by a devotee to the High Court registry citing issues at Sabarimala, especially regarding the mobility of KSRTC services at boarding points for transportation of pilgrims. 

The Government Pleader, on obtaining instructions from the State Police Chief, informed the Court that 419 police personnel are deployed at Erumeli, 701 police personnel are deployed at Nilakkal and 843 police personnel are deployed at Pamba. It was also submitted that mobile squads were also deployed for undertaking sector patrolling at regular intervals.

The Court also directed the State Police Chief to increase the number of mobile squads for police patrolling at Sabarimala. It also directed the police to help pilgrims who were stranded for a long period.

The Court also directed the District Collector, Pathanamthitta and the District Police Chief, Pathanamthitta to ensure that a sufficient number of KSRTC buses are available for the transportation of pilgrims at all boarding points.

It also directed the Chief Police Co-ordinator, Sannidhanam to assist in deploying more KSRTC buses at boarding points when restrictions were imposed on the movement of pilgrims to prevent crowds at Sannidhanam and Pamba to avoid overcrowding.

Additionally, the Court also directed that information should be provided to pilgrims through the public address system at regular intervals regarding any restriction on their movement for crowd management.

The Court also directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to limit the spot booking facility to 10,000 on days when the Virtual-Q booking has reached 80,000 to prevent overcrowding. It also directed that the restrictions on booking shall also be informed to the pilgrims using print and visual media.

“The Chief Police Co-ordinator, Sannidhanam and also the Special Police Officer at Pamba shall ensure that entry from Pamba is regulated through Virtual-Q booking and spot booking. The entry of pilgrims from Pamba without Virtual- Q booking or spot booking shall be restricted to the maximum extent possible. This restriction shall be brought to the notice of the pilgrims through print and visual media”, the Court stated.

Appearance: Senior Government Pleader S Rajmohan, Amicus Curiae N Raghuraj

Case title: Suo Moto v State of Kerala

Case number: SSCR Nos.29, 36, 41 and 42 of 2023

Click Here To Read/Download The Order