R.PADMAKUMARI Vs. ADMINISTRATOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner herein is a learned counsel practicing in this Court. In the Writ Petition the prayer is for a direction to the Guruvayoor Devaswom to provide some light refreshments to the pilgrims who are standing in the queue near "Eastern Gopura Nada", at least in festival seasons. The petitioner has highlighted her personal experience while inviting attention of this Court to the said prayer. According to the petitioner, since people have to stand in the queue for long hours, they are finding it difficult in the queue to avail the facilities provided in the hotels and other establishments. It is stated that after remaining long hours in the queue, ladies and aged people are suffering much and, therefore, appropriate direction may be issued in the matter.

(2.) A counter affidavit has been filed by the Administrator of the Guruvayoor Devaswom. In paragraph (5) of the counter, the time by which the temple opens as well as closes after the Uchapooja and also after Athazhapooja are specified. It is also stated in paragraph (7) that there will be around 30000 devotees coming to the temple for darshan on normal days, which will increase upto 50000 during public holidays. It is also stated that during the important days like Ashtami Rohini, Ekadasi etc., average number of devotees will come to one lakh. On normal days, the devotees will have to wait for about 1 to 2 hours in the queue for darshan, on Saturday and Sunday they will have to wait in the queue for 2 to 4 hours on important days as noted above, they will have to wait in the queue for 4 to 5 hours before Uchapooja and after that, they will have to wait about 3 hours in the queue for darshan.

(3.) FINALLY in paragraph (12), it is mentioned that a queue complex building is provided in the master plan project for carrying out the developmental activities in the temple. The Managing Committee of the Devaswom has resolved to construct queue complex building on the southern side of the temple for providing better facilities to the devotees coming to the temple for darshan. It is assured that light refreshments will be provided in the said building. A copy of the master plan project has been forwarded by the Devaswom to the Commissioner of Devaswoms for studying the matter to take a decision.