2024/KER/1351 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K. NARENDRAN &

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G. GIRISH TUESDAY, THE 9^TH DAY OF JANUARY 2024 / 19TH POUSHA, 1945 SSCR NO. 5 OF 2024 (IN THE MATTER OF TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD - SABARIMALA SREE DHARMA SASTHA TEMPLE - SM REPORT NO. 5/2024 REPORT –

SUBMITTED BY THE SPECIAL COMMISSIONER, SABARIMALA REGARDING THE NECESSITY OF COMMENCING A TEMPORARY ANNADHANA COUNTER BY THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD AT PANDITHAVALAM IN SABARIMALA ON 14-1-2024 AND 15-1-2024 SUO MOTU –

PROCEEDINGS INITIATED REG.)

PETITIONER:

SUO MOTU RESPONDENTS:

1 STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, REVENUE (DEVASWOM)

DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001 2 TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, NANTHANCODE, KAWDIAR POST, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695003

3 DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, DEVASWOM BUILDINGS, NANTHANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695005

4 EXECUTIVE OFFICER,SABARIMALA, SABARIMALA P.O., PATHANAMTHITTA, PIN - 689662 SRI S.RAJMOHAN- SR GOVERNMENT PLEADER ;

SRI G.BIJU SC, TDB –

SRI N.RAGHURAJ - AMICUS CURIAE, SPL.COMMISSIONER, SABARIMALA THIS SABARIMALA SPECIAL COMMISSIONER REPORT HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 09.01.2024, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

ORDER

Anil K. Narendran, J.

The Special Commissioner, Sabarimala has filed this report regarding the necessity to commence a temporary Annadhana counter by the Travancore Devaswom Board at Pandithavalam on 14.01.2024 and 15.01.2024.

2. Heard the learned Senior Government Pleader for the

1^st respondent, the learned Standing Counsel for Travancore Devaswom Board for respondents 2 to 4 and also the learned Amicus Curiae for the Special Commissioner, Sabarimala.

3. In view of the provisions under Section 15A of the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, it shall be the duty of the Travancore Devaswom Board to see that the regular traditional rites and ceremonies according to the practice prevalent in Sabarimala are performed promptly; and to establish and maintain proper facilities in Sabarimala Temple for the devotees.

4. Regarding the Annadanam facilities provided by Travancore Devaswom Board at Sannidhanam, this Court passed a detailed judgment dated 04.04.2023 in W.P.(C)No.35062 of 2022. In the said judgment, this Court observed that the issue raised in the said writ petition is covered by the judgment of a Division Bench of this Court dated 10.11.2022 in W.P.(C)No.35827 of 2022, in which one among us (Anil K. Narendran, J) was a party. In paragraph 6 of the judgment in W.P.(C)No.35827 of 2022, this Court noticed the specific stand taken in the counter affidavit filed by the Travancore Devaswom Board that, in compliance with the directions issued by this Court, the Board has constructed an Annadanam hall at Sannidhanam with more than 1,40,000 sq. ft. area, which is having a seating facility for 2,000 pilgrims at a time, which can accommodate 5,000 pilgrims at a time, without seating arrangements. The Board has made all arrangements for providing Annadanam to pilgrims throughout the day. Breakfast, lunch and supper will be given to the pilgrims throughout the day. Annadanam will be provided day and night continuously, with a short intermittent break of 30 minutes for cleaning and arranging the hall and the tables. The Board is expecting approximately 30,000 to 35,000 persons per day for Annadanam. The Board has sufficient facilities to provide Annadanam to more persons, in the case of high footfall. The tender process for the supply of vegetables and other materials for the preparation of food (for Mandala-Makaravilakku Festival season of 2022-23) is in the final stage. A sufficient number of workers and staff are arranged for the preparation and distribution of food. A Special Officer has been appointed in Sabarimala for the proper conduct of Annadanam efficiently and without giving room for any compl