JUDGMENT :

ANIL K. NARENDRAN, J.

1. The petitioners have filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking writ of mandamus commanding respondents 5 to 8 not to impose any restriction on the movement of devotees on the traditional trekking path from Erumeli without consultation with Malayarayan tribal community and adversely affecting the traditional religious practices of that community and other devotees or divert pilgrims to nontraditional paths to Sabarimala Temple, which is more onerous or restrictive than the restrictions on the two non-traditional paths. The petitioners have also sought for a writ of mandamus commanding respondents 1 to 4 to draw up a master plan for the protection and maintenance of Erumeli-Sannidhanam traditional pathway with due right of administration to the members of Malayarayan community and other communities, to maintain and protect the above places of worship; and a writ of mandamus commanding the respondents to protect the rites, rituals and beliefs of the petitioners and members of Malayarayan tribal community witho