SUO MOTU Vs. TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The matter pertains to the report dated 27.09.2017 submitted by the Special Commissioner, Sabarimala appointed by this Court, referring to the deplorable condition of the roads leading to Sabarimala and the urgent need/necessity to have the said roads repaired on a war footing, as the festival season will commence from 16.11.2017. The roads specifically mentioned by the Special Commissioner are (i) Kottarakkara - Punalur Road and (ii) Punalur - Muvattupuzha road. It is stated that the Special Commissioner has visited some other roads as well and the report has been submitted seeking for a direction to be given to the Government, particularly the Public Works Department, KSTP and the National Highway Authority to cause/complete maintenance and repairing of the roads leading to Sabarimala before the festival season commences in November, 2017

(2.) When the matter came up for consideration before this Court earlier, we wanted to ascertain the role of the National Highway Authority, and accordingly, the name of the learned Standing Counsel was required to be shown in the cause list. The learned Standing Counsel appeared and non-involvement of the National Highway Authority with regard to the roads in question was brought to the notice of this Court. Accordingly, we passed the following interim order on 05.10.2017.

(3.) Pursuant to the observation made by this Court, a detailed Statement has been filed on behalf of the second respondent /State of Kerala, pointing out the various measures taken with regard to the repair and maintenance of the roads. Paragraph 2 of the said statement dated 07.10.2017 is reproduced below: