Yesterday, on January 3rd, the Kerala High Court issued a directive to the Travancore Devaswom Board, mandating the provision of drinking water and light refreshments to pilgrims who found themselves stranded in Sabarimala due to the overwhelming rush during the Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season.

Justices Anil K. Narendran and G. Girish, as part of the Division Bench, further directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to ensure an adequate deployment of volunteers, particularly during nighttime, to assist the pilgrims who were stranded during the bustling hours of the Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season at Sabarimala.

Additionally, the Court mandated the Superintending Engineer of the Kerala Water Authority's Public Health Circle to collaborate with the Travancore Devaswom Board to guarantee a sufficient and uninterrupted supply of drinking water to the pilgrims in Sabarimala.

During the hearing of a suo moto petition, the Court issued the aforementioned order while addressing concerns related to crowd management of pilgrims at Sabarimala throughout the Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season.

Furthermore, the Court inquired about parking provisions and instructed both the Travancore Devaswom Board and the District Police Chief of Pathanamthitta to ensure that the largest possible number of vehicles are parked at the Devaswom parking grounds in Nilakkal.

In attendance were Senior Government Pleader S Rajmohan and Amicus Curiae N Raghuraj.

Case title: Suo Moto v State of Kerala

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