Kerala High Court
Suo Motu vs State Of Kerala on 4 December, 2021
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K.NARENDRAN
&
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.G. AJITHKUMAR
Saturday, the 4th day of December 2021 / 13th Agrahayana, 1943
SSCR NO. 14 OF 2021
IN THE MATTER OF TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD - SABARIMALA SPECIAL COMMISSIONER
REPORT - SM NO.15/2021 - REPORT REGARDING THE CHAIN SERVICE OF KSRTC BUSES
NILAKKAL AND PAMPA AND THE FAIR COLLECTED - SUO MOTU PROCEEDINGS INITIATED -
REG.
PETITIONER:
SUO MOTU
RESPONDENTS:
1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT
SECRETARIATE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001.
2. THE STATE POLICE CHIEF, POLICE HEAD QUARTERS, VAZHUTHAKKAD,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 010.
3. THE DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF, PATHANAMTHITTA - 689645.
4. KERALA STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING
DIRECTOR, TRANSPORT BHAVAN, FORT P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 035.
5. THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY,
NANTHANCODE, KAWDIAR POST, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 003.
6. ADDL.6. THE TRANSPORT COMMISSIONER, TRANSPORT COMMSSIONERATE, 2ND
FLOOR, TRANS TOWER, VAZHUTHACAUD, THYCAUD P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM -
695014
IS SUO MOTU IMPLEADED VIDE ORDER DATED 4.12.2021 IN SSCR 14/2021
BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER FOR R1, R2 & R3& R6
BY STANDING COUNSEL FOR KERALA STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION
BY STANDING COUNSEL FOR TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD
BY ADV. SRI.N.RAGHURAJ, AMICUS CURIAE FOR SABARIMALA SPECIAL
COMMISSIONER
This Sabarimala Special Commissioner Report No.14/2021 having come
up for orders on 04.12.2021, the court on the same day passed the
following:
[P.T.O.]
ANIL K. NARENDRAN & P.G. AJITHKUMAR, JJ.
---------------------------------------------------
SSCR No.14 of 2021
------------------------------------------------------
Dated this the 4th day of December, 2021
ORDER
Anil K. Narendran, J.
The Transport Commissioner, Transport Commissionerate,
2nd Floor, Trans Towers, Vazhuthacaud, Thycaud P.O.,
Thiruvananthapuram - 695 014 is suo motu impleaded as the
additional 6th respondent.
2. The Special Commissioner, Sabarimala, has filed this
report regarding the chain service provided by KSRTC between
Nilakkal and Pampa.
3. The one-way ticket fare from Nilakkal to Pampa in Low-
floor non A/C buses is Rs.50/- and that for A/C buses is Rs.80/-.
In the report, the Special Commissioner has also referred to the
order of this Court dated 01.11.2018 in SSCR No.14 of 2018 and
the judgment dated 01.11.2018 in W.P.(C)No.30719 of 2018 and
connected cases.
4. In the report it is stated that there are complaints from
pilgrims that KSRTC is collecting excess fare from Sabarimala
pilgrims and not providing adequate number of buses. All pilgrims
coming from long distance in buses are offloaded at Nilakkal for
SSCR No.14 of 2021
verification of Virtual-Q coupons and Covid Vaccination/test
certificates, which according to the Special Commissioner causes
much delay. In the report it is suggested that if arrangement is
made by the Police at Nilakkal to check the Virtual-Q coupons
and Covid Vaccination certificates of long distance passengers, by
increasing the verification centres at Nilakkal, inconvenience in
this regard can be reduced. Various other suggestions have also
been made by the Special Commissioner in this report regarding
transportation of pilgrims from Nilakkal to Pampa and back.
5. The learned Senior Government Pleader for
respondents 1 to 3 and 6 and also the respective Standing
Counsel for KSRTC and Travancore Devaswom Board seek time
to get instructions.
List on 06.12.2021.
Sd/-
ANIL K. NARENDRAN,
Judge
Sd/-
P.G. AJITHKUMAR,
Judge
AV/4/12
04-12-2021 /True Copy/ Assistant Registrar
