Kerala High Court
Suo Motu vs Union Government on 7 January, 2025
Author: Anil K. Narendran
Bench: Anil K.Narendran
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K.NARENDRAN
&
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MURALEE KRISHNA S.
Tuesday, the 7th day of January 2025 / 17th pousha, 1946
SSCR NO. 72 OF 2024
IN THE MATTER OF TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD - SABARIMALA SPECIAL COMMISSIONER
REPORT - SM NO.72/2024 - REPORT REGARDING THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO PROVIDE
ADEQUATE FACILITIES TO SABARIMALA PILGRIMS AT THE EDATHAVALAMS FOR THE MANDALAM
MAKARAVILAKKU FESTIVAL SEASON 2024-2025 ( 1200 M.E) - SUO MOTU PROCEEDINGS
INITIATED - REG.
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PETITIONER:
SUO MOTU
RESPONDENTS:
1. UNION GOVERNMENT, MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS,
REPRESENTED BY THE DIVISIONAL RAILWAY MANAGER,
(THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DIVISION), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001
2. STATE OF KERALA
REPRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
REVENUE (DEVASWOM) DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001
3. THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, NANTHANCODE, KAWDIAR POST,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 003
4. THE DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER
TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, DEVASWOM BUILDINGS, NANTHANCODE,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 005
5. THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SABARIMALA, PAMPA TRIVENI P.O., PATHANAMTHITTA - 689 670
6. EXECUTIVE MAGISTRATE
OFFICE OF THE SABARIMALA SPECIAL COMMISSIONER, SABARIMALA,
PATHANAMTHITTA, PIN - 689 713
7. THE SECRETARY
DISTRICT TOURISM PROMOTION COUNCIL (DTPC), KODIMATHA,
KOTTAYAM - 686 013
8. COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, ROUND NORTH, THRISSUR - 680 001
9. MALABAR DEVASWOM BOARD
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, HOUSEFED COMPLEX, ERANHIPALAM,
KOZHIKODE - 673 006
10. GURUVAYUR DEVASWOM MANAGING COMMITTEE
GURUVAYUR DEVASWOM, GURUVAYUR, PIN- 680 101,
REPRESENTED BY ITS ADMINISTRATOR
11. ERUMELI GRAMA PANCHAYATH
REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY, SH 44, ERUMELI, KOTTAYAM-686 509
*ADDL.R12 TO R16 IMPLEADED
12. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, COLLECTORATE, ALAPPPUZHA 688 001
13. THE DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF,
MUKHAM PURAYIDOM, CIVIL STATION WARD, ALAPPUZHA 688 012
14. CHENGANNUR MUNICIPALITY,
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, CHENGANNUR, ALAPPUZHA 689 121
15. DIVISIONAL MANAGER,
SOUTHERN RAILWAY, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DIVISION
16. STATION MASTER,
CHENGANNUR RAILWAY STATION
*ARE SUO MOTU IMPLEADED AS ADDITIONAL RESPONDENTS 12 TO 16 VIDE
ORDER DATED 28/10/2024 IN SSCR.NO.72/2024.
*ADDL.R17 IMPLEADED
17. THE STATION MASTER, ERNAKULAM SOUTH RAILWAY STATION
*IS SUO MOTU IMPLEADED AS ADDITIONAL 17TH RESPONDENT VIDE ORDER
DATED 13/11/2024 IN SSCR.NO.72/2024
*ADDL.R18 TO R21 IMPLEADED
18. THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER,
ERUMELI DEVASWOM
19. THE DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF, KOTTAYAM
20. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KOTTAYAM
21. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, ERUMELI POLICE STATION
ARE SUO MOTU IMPLEADED AS ADDITIONAL RESPONDENTS 18 TO 21 VIDE
ORDER DATED 18/11/2024 IN SSCR.NO.72/2024
*ADDL.R22 IMPLEADED
22. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER,
ERNAKULAM TOWN NORTH (KASABA) POLICE STATION, CHITTOOR ROAD,
KACHERIPADY, ERNAKULAM-682 018
*IS SUO MOTU IMPLEADED AS ADDITIONAL 22ND RESPONDENT VIDE ORDER
DATED 19/12/2024 IN SSCR.NO.72/2024
*ADDL.R23 IMPLEADED
23. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, KOCHI CITY
*IS SUO MOTU IMPLEADED AS ADDITIONAL 23RD RESPONDENT VIDE ORDER
DATED 20/12/2024 IN SSCR.NO.72/2024
*ADDL.R24 IMPLEADED
24. THE EXECUTIVE MAGISTRATE,
PORUMKAL KADAVU ROAD, ERUMELI, KOTTAYAM-686 509
*IS SUO MOTU IMPLEADED AS ADDITIONAL 24TH RESPONDENT VIDE ORDER
DATED 07/01/2025 IN SSCR.NO.72/2024
BY DEPUTY SOLICITOR GENERAL OF INDIA
BY SRI.S.RAJMOHAN, SENIOR GOVERNMENT PLEADER
BY SRI.G.BIJU, SC, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD
BY SRI.K.P.SUDHEER, SC, COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD
BY STANDING COUNSEL FOR GURUVAYUR DEVASWOM MANAGING COMMITTEE
BY STANDING COUNSEL FOR MALABAR DEVASWOM BOARD
BY SMT.SAYUJYA RADHAKRISHNAN, AMICUS CURIAE FOR SABARIMALA
SPECIAL COMMISSIONER
BY SRI.V.N.HARIDAS, SC, CHENGANNUR MUNICIPALITY
BY SRI.JIBU P.THOMAS, SC, ERUMELI GRAMA PANCHAYAT
THIS SABARIMALA SPECIAL COMMISSIONER REPORT HAVING COME UP FOR
ORDERS AGAIN ON 07/01/2025, UPON PERUSING THE REPORT AND THIS COURT'S
ORDER DATED 06/01/2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:
ANIL K. NARENDRAN & MURALEE KRISHNA S., JJ.
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SSCR No.72 of 2024
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Dated this the 7th day of January, 2025
ORDER
Anil K. Narendran, J.
The Executive Magistrate, Porumkal Kadavu Road, Erumeli,
Kottayam-686 509 is suo motu impleaded as the additional 24 th
respondent.
2. Registry to carry out necessary corrections in the cause
title.
3. On 06.01.2025, when this SSCR came up for
consideration, this Court noticed a news item that appeared in
Malayala Manorama daily dated 06.01.2025 regarding charging of
exorbitant amounts from Sabarimala pilgrims for availing various
facilities like parking, toilet, hotel, etc. at Erumeli. The learned Senior
Government Pleader, the learned Standing Counsel for Travancore
Devaswom Board and also the learned Standing Counsel for Erumeli
Grama Panchayat sought time to get instructions.
4. Today, when this matter is taken up for consideration, the
learned Standing Counsel for Travancore Devaswom Board has made
available for the perusal of this Court the general conditions, which
form part of the tender notification for Kuthaka items in Erumeli
Devaswom for the year 1200ME (2024-25). Clause A2 of the tender
conditions deals with the fee that can be collected by the Kuthaka
holders of the parking grounds in the land of Erumeli Devaswom,
which reads thus;
"എ-2. പാർക്കിംഗ് - സെക്യൂരകറ്റക 1,00,000/- രൂപ.
എരുമേലക ഹൈസ്ക്ൂൾ മേഡകയത്തകലുിം, അിംഗീക്ൃതപ്ലാൻ
അനുെരകച്ച് പാർക്കിംഗകനായക തകരകച്ചകട്ടുള്ള മേവെവിംവക്
സ്ഥലങ്ങളകലുിം (ആലമ്പള്ളക മക്ാമ്പൗണ്ടകൽ താല്ക്ക്ാലകക്
സേസ്സകനുിം, ഡകപ്പാർട്ട്സേന്റ് വാൈനങ്ങൾക്ുള്ള ക്ാർ
സെഡ്ഡകനുേുള്ള സ്ഥലിം ക്ഴകച്ച്) പാർക്ു സെയ്യുന്ന
വാൈനങ്ങളകൽ നകന്നുിം ഫീസ് പകരകക്ുന്നതകനുള്ള അവക്ാശിം
1200-)0 ോണ്ട് തുലാിം 25 േുതൽ േക്രിം 5 വസരയുിം 2025 ഏപ്പകൽ
1 േുതൽ 20 വസരയുിം 1201 എിം.ഇ. തുലാോെിം വസരയുള്ള േറ്റു
ോെങ്ങളകൽ ശബരകേല ോെപൂജയ്ക്ക്് നടതുറന്നകരകക്ുന്ന
േകവെങ്ങളകലുിം) എരുമേലക മേപ്തത്തകനു േുൻവശിം
നടപ്പന്തലകന്റസറ സതക്ുവശത്തുള്ള മക്ാൺപ്ക്ീറ്റ് ഹേതാനിം
പാർക്കിംഗകൽ നകന്നുിം 1200 എിം.ഇ.യകൽ ഒഴകവാക്കയകട്ടു
ള്ളതാണ്.
ഈടാക്ാവുന്ന പ്പതകേകന ഫീസ് വകവരിം െുവസട മെർക്ുന്നു.
1. ഇരുെപ്ക്വാൈനങ്ങൾ - 10/- രൂപ
2. ഓമട്ടാറകേ - 20/- രൂപ
3. ക്ാർ - 30/- രൂപ
4. ജീപ്പ് െുമോ, ക്വാളീസ്, ഇമന്നാവ (8 െീറ്റ്) - 40/- രൂപ
5. വാൻ (14 െീറ്റ്) - 50/- രൂപ
6. േകനകബസ്സ് (25 െീറ്റ് വസര) - 75/- രൂപ
7. ബസ്സ് 100/- രൂപ
5. Clause A3/4 deals with the fee that can be collected
by the Kuthaka holders of Erumeli Devaswom, from the pilgrims,
for using urinal, toilet, bathroom and cloakroom, which reads
thus;
"എ-3/4. - മലാക്് റൂിം - സെക്യൂരകറ്റക 10,000 രൂപാ
മപാലീസ് ഡകപ്പാർട്ട്സേന്റ് നകർമേശകക്ുന്ന സ്ഥലത്ത്
നകർമ്മകച്ചകട്ടുള്ള േൂന്ന് താത്ക്ക്ാലകക് മലാക്് റൂേുക്ൾ
ഉപമയാഗകക്ുന്നവരകൽ നകന്നുിം 1200 എിം.ഇ. േണ്ഡലിം -
േക്രവകളക്് ക്ാലത്ത് 25 രൂപാ പ്ക്േിം ഫീസ് പകരകക്ുന്നതകനുള്ള
അവക്ാശിം.
ആൾ ഒന്നകന്റ ഈടാക്ാവുന്ന ഫീസ് വകവരിം
1. ക്ക്ൂസ് 5/- രൂപ
2. ക്ുളകേുറക 10/- രൂപ
3. മലാക്് റൂിം 15/- രൂപ"
6. The learned Senior Government Pleader, on instructions
from the additional 24th respondent Executive Magistrate, Erumeli,
would submit that in 26 cases, a total amount of Rs.1,30,000/- has
been collected as fine from the Kuthaka holders and traders for
collecting exorbitant amounts from Sabarimala pilgrims for using
parking facility, toilet facility, etc.
7. The learned Standing Counsel for Erumeli Grama
Panchayat would submit that, as directed by the Secretary of the
Grama Panchayat, the Panchayat officials are also conducting regular
inspections in order to ensure that exorbitant amounts are not being
collected by traders/Kuthaka holders from Sabarimala pilgrims,
towards parking fee, user fee for the toilet facilities, etc. Such
inspections are being conducted in private parking grounds and also in
the toilet facilities provided by private persons.
8. By the judgment dated 06.12.2024 in W.P.(C)No.41968 of
2024, this Court directed the Executive Magistrate, Erumeli and the
Secretary of Erumeli Grama Panchayat to take necessary steps to
ensure that there is no exploitation of Sabarimala pilgrims at Erumeli,
during Sabarimala pilgrimage season of 1200ME (2024-25); that the
traders at Erumeli are collecting only the rate re-fixed in order
No.DCKTM/H 5-6027/24 dated 04.12.2024 of the District Collector,
Kottaym for Sharam, Kacha, Gadha, Kireedom and Val; that Sharam,
Kacha, Gadha, Kunkumom, Kireedom and Val sold by traders are of
the required quality; that exorbitant amounts are not being collected
from Sabarimala pilgrims for availing parking facility and latrine/toilet
facility provided by private persons at Erumeli, during Sabarimala
pilgrimage season of 1200ME (2024-25). The enforcement squads
under the Executive Magistrate and the Secretary of Erumeli Grama
Panchayat were directed to conduct regular inspections during
Sabarimala pilgrimage season in order to ensure safe and comfortable
pilgrimage to all pilgrims, and also to prevent any exploitation of
pilgrims by traders and others.
9. Having considered the submissions made at the Bar, we
deem it appropriate to direct the additional 19th respondent District
Police Chief, Kottayam, the additional 20th respondent District
Collector, Kottayam, the additional 21st respondent Station House
Officer, Erumeli Police Station, the additional 24th respondent
Executive Magistrate, Erumeli and also the Secretary of the 11th
respondent Erumeli Grama Panchayat to take necessary steps to
ensure that there is no exploitation of Sabarimala pilgrims, in any
manner, by the traders/Kuthaka holders at Erumeli. The special squad
under the control of the additional 24th respondent Executive
Magistrate, Erumeli shall ensure that the parking fee in private parking
grounds and that in Devaswom parking grounds and the user fee in
toilets/urinals run by the Kuthaka holders of Erumeli Devaswom and
that in private properties run by the concerned licensees are exhibited
in front of every parking ground and the places where toilet facilities
are provided. Stringent action shall be taken against the Kuthaka
holder/trader who collect exorbitant amounts from Sabarimala
pilgrims, for availing such facilities and also for purchasing Sharam,
Kacha, Gadha, Kireedom and Val and availing Chendamelam in
connection with Erumeli Petta Thullal.
List tomorrow (08.01.2025).
Sd/-
ANIL K. NARENDRAN, JUDGE
Sd/-
MURALEE KRISHNA S., JUDGE
AV/7/1
07-01-2025 /True Copy/ Assistant Registrar
