SUO MOTU Vs. TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The report bearing No. 2 of 2018 dated 12.01.2018 [today] submitted by the Special Commissioner appointed by this Court at Sabarimala pointing out the emergent requirement to pass appropriate orders by this Court in respect of the situation and instances mentioned therein made this proceedings to be registered 'suo motu'.

(2.) We heard Sri. V. Krishna Menon the learned standing counsel for the 1st respondent Travancore Devaswom Board, the learned Government Pleader appearing for the State and Adv. Sri. M. L. George at whose instance the proceedings by way of DBP No. 136 of 2012 came to be initiated and proceeded further, passing different orders in respect of the affairs at Sabarimala.

(3.) As per the report of the Special Commissioner, it is pointed out that, this Court vide order dated 28.10.2015 in D.B.P. No. 136 of 2012 and SSCR No. 11 of 2015 had made it clear that 'Annadanam' at Sabarimala will be institutionalized and it will be the sole responsibility of the Tranvancore Devaswom Board to have the 'Annadanam' performed; at the same time, permitting other interested parties to join the venture, as part of 'Sramadan'. However, in paragraphs 8 and 9 of the said order, some concession was given to the pilgrim groups for preparing food for themselves as in the previous years. For convenience of reference, we extract the said paragraphs :