The Kerala High Court has taken up the matter of assessing the possibility of allowing individuals reliant on wheelchairs to access the inner sanctum of temples, ensuring they can have a complete and unobstructed view of the deity during worship.

In pursuit of this objective, a division bench comprising Justices Anil K Narendran and Harisankar V Menon instigated suo motu proceedings to deliberate on the matter. They also designated advocate V. Ramkumar Nambiar as an amicus curiae to provide expert assistance in addressing the issue.

The initiation of the suo motu case came in response to a request from a woman who advocated for the allowance of wheelchairs inside the Naalambalam of temples. This request aimed to ensure that devotees with physical disabilities could experience an unimpeded darshan of the temple deity.

Highlighting her personal experience, the woman recounted how, during her temple visits, her father and husband had to physically lift her onto their shoulders to enable her to catch a glimpse of the deity. She emphasized that imposing such restrictions not only undermines the morale of devotees but also hinders their spiritual experience. Urging the Court to intervene, she sought assistance in facilitating access for individuals with disabilities closer to the sanctum sanctorum to ensure they can have a fulfilling darshan.

To delve into potential solutions for these concerns, the Court instructed the Senior Government Pleader and the respective standing counsels of the Travancore Devaswom Board, Cochin Devaswom Board, Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee, and the Malabar Devaswom Board to submit affidavits detailing the current situation and proposing recommendations. This directive aims to gather comprehensive information and suggestions to address the accessibility challenges faced by devotees with disabilities.