Kerala High Court
Suo Motu vs State Of Kerala on 15 December, 2023
Author: Anil K. Narendran
Bench: Anil K.Narendran
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K.NARENDRAN
&
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.GIRISH
Friday, the 15th day of December 2023 / 24th Agrahayana, 1945
SSCR NO. 42 OF 2023
IN THE MATTER OF TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD - SABARIMALA SPECIAL COMMISSIONER
REPORT - SM.NO.42/2023 - REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE SPECIAL COMMISSIONER,
SABARIMALA REGARDING CROWD MANAGEMENT AT SABARIMALA SANNIDHANAM DUE TO HEAVY
RUSH OF PILGRIMS TO HAVE DARSHAN ON 01/12/2023 AND 02/12/2023 - SUO MOTU
PROCEEDINGS INITIATED - REG:
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PETITIONER:
SUO MOTU
RESPONDENTS:
1. STATE OF KERALA
REPRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
REVENUE (DEVASWOM) DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001
2. THE CHIEF POLICE CO-ORDINATOR
(ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, LAW AND ORDER)
SANNIDHANAM, SABARIMALA, PATHANAMTHITTA, PIN -689 713
3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR
COLLECTORATE, PATHANAMTHITTA, KERALA-689 645
4. THE DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF, PATHANAMTHITTA-689 645
5. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER
PAMBA POLICE STATION, THRIVENI-PAMBA, PATHANAMTHITTA,
PIN-689662
6. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER
SANNIDHANAM POLICE STATION, SABARIMALA SANNIDHANAM,
PATHANAMTHITTA, PIN-689 713
7. THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, NANTHANCODE, KAWDIAR POST,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN- 695 003
8. THE DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER
TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, DEVASWOM BUILDINGS, NANTHANCODE,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN-695 005
9. THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SABARIMALA, PAMBA TRIVENI P.O., PATHANAMTHITTA-689670
*ADDL.R10 IMPLEADED
10. THE DIG OF POLICE,
GROUP CENTRE, CRPF, PALLIPPURAM, THIRUVANANANTHAPURAM-695 316
*IS SUO MOTU IMPLEADED AS ADDITIONAL 10TH RESPONDENT VIDE ORDER
DATED 09/12/2023 IN SSCR 42 OF 2023
BY SRI.S.RAJMOHAN, SR.GOVERNMENT PLEADER
BY STANDING COUNSEL FOR TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD
BY SRI.N.RAGHURAJ, AMICUS CURIAE FOR SABARIMALA SPECIAL
COMMISSIONER
BY DEPUTY SOLICITOR GENERAL OF INDIA FOR ADDL.R10
THIS SABARIMALA SPECIAL COMMISSIONER REPORT ALONG WITH CONNECTED
CASES HAVING COME UP FOR ORDERS AGAIN ON 15/12/2023, UPON PERUSING THE
REPORT AND THIS COURT'S COMMON ORDER DATED 15/12/2023 (ORDER NO.1), THE
COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:
ANIL K. NARENDRAN & G. GIRISH, JJ.
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SSCR Nos.29, 36, 41 and 42 of 2023
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Dated this the 15th day of December, 2023
(at 2.00 p.m.)
ORDER
Anil K. Narendran, J.
When this matter is taken up again at 2.00 p.m., the learned Senior Government Pleader would submit that crowd management at Sabarimala is under control.
2. Regarding the incidents noted in paragraph 21 of the order of this Court dated 14.12.2023 (yesterday) at 10.15 a.m., the report of the Chief Police Co-ordinator, Sannidhanam is being placed on record along with the copy of the FIR.
3. Paragraph 2 of the order of this Court dated 14.12.2023 (yesterday) at 3.00 p.m. reads thus;
"2. The learned Senior Government Pleader, on instructions, would submit that crowd management at Sabarimala is under control. Out of 11 places identified by the Regional Transport Officer (Enforcement), Pathanamthitta for parking vehicles carrying Sabarimala pilgrims, when the movement of pilgrims from Nilakkal is restricted by 'hold and release' mechanism, 7 places are found suitable, in the inspection conducted by the police. The District Police Chief, Pathanamthitta has filed a report dated 13.12.2023 furnishing the particulars of those places, which are extracted hereunder;2
SSCR Nos.29, 36, 41 and 42 of 2023 PLACES BETWEEN VADASSERIKARA AND LAHA IN PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT SL.NO. FROM TO LENGTH AVAILABLE PARKING HMV/LMV OF PLACE STRETCH 1 BSNL-LAHA LAHA FOREST 1.3 KMS ROAD MARGIN 10 HMV STATION & 15 LMV 2 MANUJALA HOTEL AMMAN 0.8 KMS 1. AMMANKOVIL 10 HMV KOVIL/HARRISON TEMPLE AREA & 15 LMV 3 PUTHUKKADA VAYARANMARUTHY 2 KMS 1.KOONAMKARA 1. 8 HMV JN. EDATHAVALAM AND & 10 LMV
2. CARMEL 2. 6 HMV ENGINEERING COLLEGE & 10 LMV ROAD 4 VAYARANMARUTHY PERINADU 2 KMS NIL JN.
5 PERINADU POOVATHUMOODU 2 KMS
YOGAMAYA 10 HMV
BRIDGE ASHRAMAM & 10 LMV
6 POOVATHUMOODU VADASSERIKKARA 5.2 KMS 1. POOVATHUMMOODU 1. 5 LMV
BRIDGE PANCHAYATH GROUND 2. 5 LMV
2. 3. 8 HMV MADAMONRISHIKESHA TEMPLE
3. NEAR MUNDAPLACKAL PADI TOTAL NO. OF VEHICELS IDENTIFIED FOR PARKING - HMV - 52 AND LMV - 70 PLACES FROM KANAMALA IN ERUMELI IN KOTTAYAM DISTRICT SL.N FROM TO LENGTH AVAILABLE PARKING HMV/LMV O. OF PLACES STRETC H 1 CHEMPAKKARA THOOMKUZHIP 1 KMS NIL ADI 2 MES THIRUVAMPAD 2 KMS 1. MES GROUND 1. LMV-150 I TEMPLE 2. HOTEL ARYAS NEAR VEHICLES AZIZI HOSPITAL 2. HMV-15
2. 3. THIRUMPADI TEMPLE 3. LMV-100 GROUND 3 35TH MILE MUTTAPPALY 1.5 KMS RTD.SI NOUSHAD LMV-50 GROUND VEHICLES 4 MUTTAPPALY KUTTAPPAYIPP 1.5 KMS NIL ADI 5 KUTTAPPAYIPPADI CHEENIMARAM 2 KMS NIL TOTAL NO. OF VEHICLES IDENTIFIED FOR PARKING HMV-15 LMV-300
4. The learned Senior Government Pleader, on instructions, would submit that in terms of the directions contained in the order of this Court dated 14.12.2023, the District Police Chief shall take necessary steps to hold vehicles carrying pilgrims, in addition to Sabarimala Edathavalams, as the places identified as above, when the movement of pilgrims from Nilakkal 3 SSCR Nos.29, 36, 41 and 42 of 2023 is restricted by 'hold and release' mechanism.
5. It is made that, when the vehicles are parked in those locations, the police and the enforcement officers in the Motor Vehicles Department, who are on sectoral patrolling shall render necessary assistance to the pilgrims.
List this matter for further consideration on 18.12.2023.
Sd/-
ANIL K. NARENDRAN, JUDGE Sd/-
G. GIRISH, JUDGE MIN 15-12-2023 /True Copy/ Assistant Registrar