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These orders were passed by the court in a suo moto petition
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday issued directions for crowd management at Sabarimala during the Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season.
The division bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice G. Girish ordered the Chief Police Co-Ordinator at Sannidhanam to regulate the movement of pilgrims through Pathinettampadi, prioritizing their safety while ensuring maximum pilgrims have darshan through this route.
Court ordered for a special queue to be designated for the movement of women, children of tender age, and persons with disabilities to guarantee their safety.
Court further ordered the Travancore Devaswom Board to maintain cleanliness in queue complexes and pilgrim sheds, deploying 72 employees working round the clock in shifts. An Executive Magistrate will conduct daily inspections to ensure cleanliness, court ordered.
The division bench asked the Board to deploy ample volunteers to provide 'chukku vellam' and biscuits to pilgrims stranded in queue complexes, pilgrim sheds, and trekking paths.
It added that adequate security personnel and employees should be deployed by the Travancore Devaswom Board in parking grounds to ensure proper vehicle parking and steps will be taken to make the Second Track of FASTag operational for collecting parking fees at Nilakkal if not already in place.
The movement of vehicles to Nilakkal will be controlled by a hold and release mechanism. Police are required to provide Annadhanam, drinking water, and biscuits to pilgrims stranded between Laha and Nilakkal, court ordered.
Moreover, it urged the Board to consider enlisting the help of NSS volunteers or local self-government institutions to provide drinking water and biscuits to pilgrims.
The Regional Transport Officer (Enforcement), Pathanamthitta, is directed to identify additional parking grounds along the Pathanamthitta route,
These orders were passed by the court in a suo moto petition, taking into account the report submitted by the Special Commissioner, Sabarimala, regarding crowd management during the Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season. The Special Commissioner's report detailed the necessary measures to ensure adequate facilities for pilgrims at Sabarimala.
Case Title: Suo Moto v State of Kerala
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