Kerala High Court Directs District Collector To Monitor Upcoming Annual Festival At Sabarimala Amid Orange Alert

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the Pathanamthitta District Collector to monitor the upcoming Niraputhari festival scheduled to be held tomorrow at Sabarimala in the wake of the orange alert issued in the district amid heavy downpour. 

A Division Bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice P.G. Ajithkumar also ordered that in case of any exigencies, appropriate decisions shall be taken by the District Disaster Management Authority, including restrictions on entry of pilgrims.

"We deem it appropriate to direct the 5th respondent District Collector, who is the Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority, to monitor the issues in connection with Niraputhari festival in Sabarimala, since orange alert has already been declared for Pathanamthitta District on 2nd , 3rd and 4th of August."

The Niraputhari festival is celebrated every year at Sabarimala and witnesses a heavy rush as hundreds of devotees swarm the temple to attend the annual ritual which they believe would bring prosperity in the year ahead.

The Court had registered a suo motu case upon coming across a news article in The Hindu today which reported that pilgrims were banned from entering the river at Pampa-Triveni and in other bathing ghats.

The report had also added that Travancore Devaswom Board officials had braved the heavy rains to complete the arrangements for the festival.

When the matter was taken up, Senior Government Pleader S. Rajmohan submitted that the District Administration, the Fire and Rescue Service Department and the Police had already made necessary arrangements for crowd management during the festival, which is scheduled to be held tomorrow. The entry of pilgrims will be permitted today evening and as usual, there will be restrictions regarding the movement of pilgrims from Nilakkal to Pamba between 10 p.m. till midnight.

Standing Counsel G. Biju appearing for Travancore Devaswom Board stated that the Board has already made necessary arrangements for the festival. The entry of pilgrims is regulated through Virtual-Q and that spot-booking facility is provided at Nilakkal.

KSRTC added that it had provided 11 buses for Nilakkal-Pamba Chain Service, and that three buses were now being operated for the same.

Amicus Curiae Advocate N. Raghuraj for Sabarimala Special Commissioner also assisted the Bench in the matter. 

Upon considering the submissions made across the Bar, the Court directed the concerned District Collector to monitor the issues in connection with the Niraputhari festival. 

It was further directed that decisions taken by the District Disaster Management Authority imposing restrictions on the entry of pilgrims shall be communicated to the Special Commissioner, Sabarimala, Executive Officer, Sabarimala and also to KSRTC.

The KSRTC was also asked to provide a sufficient number of buses for Nilakkal-Pamba chain services depending upon the number of pilgrims and to ensure that there is no overcrowding of passengers in the buses.

The Superintendent of Police and the Circle Inspector of Police were directed to take necessary steps to ensure that no vehicles are parked on the side of the road from Nilakkal to Pamba under any circumstances.

With these directions, the suo motu case was disposed of. However, t was clarified that it was open to the Special Commissioner to file a report on the same, if necessary.

Case Title: Suo Motu v. State of Kerala & Ors. 

Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (Ker) 403

Click Here To Read/Download The Order