Kerala High Court
Suo Motu vs State Of Kerala on 1 July, 2024
Author: Anil K. Narendran
Bench: Anil K.Narendran
SSCR No.19/2024 1/5
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K.NARENDRAN
&
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HARISANKAR V. MENON
Monday, the 1st day of July 2024 / 10th Ashadha, 1946
SSCR NO. 19 OF 2024
IN THE MATTER OF TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD - SABARIMALA SPECIAL COMMISSIONER
REPORT - SM.NO.19/2024 - REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE SPECIAL COMMISSIONER,
SABARIMALA AS DIRECTED BY THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KERALA IN PARAGRAPH NO.19 OF
JUDGMENT DATED 17/01/2024 IN DBP 126 OF 2023 REGARDING THE STAY OF MEDIA PERSONS
WITHOUT ACCREDITATION AT SASBARIMLA - SUO MOTU PROCEEDINGS INITIATED- REG.
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PETITIONER:
SUO MOTU
RESPONDENTS:
1 STATE OF KERALA
REPRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
REVENUE (DEVASWOM) DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001
2. *SENIOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR,
STATE AUDIT DEPARTMENT, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD AUDIT,
NANTHANCODE, KAWDIAR POST, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 003
*"DEPUTY DIRECTOR, LOCAL FUND AUDIT" CORRECTED AS ABOVE VIDE ORDER
DATED 01/07/2024 IN SSCR.NO.19/2024
3. THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, NANTHANCODE, KAWDIAR POST,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 003
SSCR No.19/2024 2/5
4. THE DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER
TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, DEVASWOM BUILDINGS, NANTHANCODE,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 005
5. EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SABARIMALA, SABARIMALA P.O., PATHANAMTHITTA -689662
6. CHIEF VIGILANCE & SECURITY OFFICER (SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE)
TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM HEAD QUARTERS, NANTHANCODE, KAWDIAR POST,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695003
BY SRI.S.RAJMOHAN, SENIOR GOVERNMENT PLEADER
BY STANDING COUNSEL FOR TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD
BY SMT.SAYUJYA RADHAKRISHNAN, AMICUS CURIAE FOR SABARIMALA
SPECIAL COMMISSIONER
THIS SABARIMALA SPECIAL COMMISSIONER REPORT HAVING COME UP FOR
ADMISSION ON 01/07/2024, UPON PERUSING THE REPORT, THE COURT ON THE SAME
DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:
SSCR No.19/2024 3/5
1
SSCR No.19 of 2024
ANIL K. NARENDRAN & HARISANKAR V. MENON, JJ.
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SSCR No.19 of 2024
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Dated this the 1st day of July, 2024
ORDER
Anil K. Narendran, J.
The description of the 2nd respondent is corrected as "Senior
Deputy Director, State Audit Department, Travancore Devaswom
Board Audit, Nanthancode, Kawdiar Post, Thiruvananthapuram -
695 003.
2. The Registry to incorporate a copy of the order of this
Court dated 17.01.2024 in D.B.P.No.126 of 2023 and SSCR No.39
of 2023, in the judges' papers of this SSCR, which shall be marked
as Annexure 2, which shall also be incorporated in the file in the
online mode.
3. This report filed by the Special Commissioner,
Sabarimala, which is one filed pursuant to the directions contained
in paragraph 19 of the order dated 17.01.2024 in D.B.P.No.126 of
2023 and SSCR No.39 of 2023, is regarding the stay of media
persons at Sabarimala Sannidhanam without any accreditation.
Paragraph 19 of that order reads thus:
"19. In the order dated 21.12.2023, this Court
noticed the submission made by the learned Standing
Counsel for the Travancore Devaswom Board that the
additional 8th respondent in DBP No.126 of 2023 is
not a media person with accreditation, who can be
permitted to stay at the accommodation facility
provided to media persons at Sannidhanam. In the
affidavit filed in support of I.A.No.2 of 2023 in DBP
No.126 of 2023, the additional 8 th respondent has
stated that he is not a media person having
accreditation. He has placed on record Ext.R8(i) Press
Identity Card to show that he is a reporter of Kerala
Kaumudi daily. In paragraph 2 of that affidavit, he
has stated that out of 35 media persons staying at
Sabarimala as on 22.12.2023, only 4 persons have
accreditation. Therefore, 31 media persons without
accreditation, as per the details furnished in
paragraph 2, are staying at Sabarimala. It is for the
Special Commissioner, Sabarimala to file a report on
the above aspect, seeking appropriate directions from
this Court."
4. The learned Senior Government Pleader and the learned
Standing Counsel for Travancore Devaswom Board seek time to get
instructions with specific reference to Annexure 1 report dated
21.06.2024 of the 6th respondent Chief Vigilance & Security Officer
(Superintendent of Police), Travancore Devaswom Board.
Post on 09.07.2024.
Sd/-
ANIL K. NARENDRAN, JUDGE
Sd/-
HARISANKAR V. MENON, JUDGE
anm
01-07-2024 /True Copy/ Assistant Registrar
ANNEXURES IN SSCR.NO.19/2024
ANNEXURE 1 REPORT DATED 21/06/2024 SUBMITTED BY SUPERINTENDENT OF
POLICE, VIGILANCE AND SECURITY OFFICE,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
01-07-2024 /True Copy/ Assistant Registrar
