Allow private vehicles to enter pamba: Kerala high court

Source:deccanchronicle.com

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Monday directed that small vehicles of devotees including cars should be allowed up to Pamba when the Sabarimala hill shrine opens for monthly poojas. The Devaswom Bench of HC gave a direction to this effect.

Considering the fact there will be less rush during monthly poojas at the hill shrine. Earlier the government informed the court that it is not opposed to allowing small vehicles up to Pamba during monthly poojas.

However, the court said that since parking is not allowed in Pamba, the vehicles should return to Nilakkal after dropping the devotees at Pamba. They can come to Pamba responding to the phone call of the devotees who return after darshan. On a single day 2000 vehicles can be allowed in this manner. Big vehicles will not be allowed. Police can take legally allowed corrective steps if traffic block is created. The court also said that vehicles can be allowed from 12 noon of the day of opening of sanctum sanctorum.

The High Court asked another petitioner Thrissur Oorakam native Gopinathan whether he wanted to pursue his petition not to allow entry on non-Hindus to Sabarimala shrine. The court asked whether Harivarasanam was sung by K J Yesudas at the hill shrine.  The court also noted that Vavar who is not a Hindu is also part of Sabarimala. The court posted the case for a future date for consideration.

The Government in another hearing informed the court that departmental action has been initiated against eight policemen identified in the violent action against protestors over the entry of young women to Sabarimala. The government said this when the petition seeking action in the violent police action was taken up.