SUO MOTU Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This DBP is registered suo motu based on a complaint dtd. 30/11/2022 submitted by a devotee of Lord Ayyappa of Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, which is mailed to Registrar General of this Court, complaining about the pilgrims bringing posters and huge photographs of celebrities, politicians, etc. at Sabarimala Sannidhanam. Three photographs attached to the complaint are reproduced hereunder;

(2.) Heard the learned Senior Government Pleader for respondents 1 and 4 to 6, the learned Standing Counsel for respondents 2 and 3 and also the learned Amicus Curiae for Special Commissioner, Sabarimala.

(3.) Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is situated inside Periyar Tiger Reserve, which is a prominent pilgrim centre in Kerala, where lakhs of pilgrims trek the rugged terrains of Western Ghats to have darshan of Lord Ayyappa. Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple and Malikappuram Temple come under the Travancore Devaswom Board. Pamba Ganapathy Temple also comes under the Travancore Devaswom Board, which is a holy spot on the way from Pamba to Sannidanam, dedicated to Lord Ganesha, where the pilgrims offer prayer for safe trekking to Sannidanam.