The Kerala High Court on Wednesday strongly criticised the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) for failing to put proper crowd-control measures in place at Sabarimala during the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. The court directed the authorities to urgently upgrade accommodation facilities, sanitation systems, drinking water availability, and overall crowd management.
A bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and KV Jayakumar noted that the situation at the hill shrine spiralled out of control soon after it opened on November 16, with nearly two lakh pilgrims arriving within just 48 hours.
Petitioners informed the court that devotees were forced to wait for long hours in queues without sufficient food or drinking water, and that crowd mismanagement was especially severe near the sacred 18 steps.
The judges pointed to poor coordination between the TDB, police, and other officials as a major cause of the chaos. “Many essential works should have been completed six months ago,” the bench observed, questioning the decision to allow such large crowds to enter the temple premises simultaneously.
Newly appointed TDB chairman K. Jayakumar echoed the court’s concerns, admitting that key preparations should have been completed months earlier. He attributed the situation to the incomplete implementation of earlier plans and the unexpectedly high turnout of pilgrims in the first two days. However, he assured that no devotee would be denied the chance to offer prayers.
The court also suggested dividing pilgrims into different sectors to ensure smoother movement instead of allowing everyone in at once.
Court Orders Strict Measures to Improve Facilities
Addressing issues raised in the petitions, the High Court ordered several immediate interventions:
- More eco-friendly bio-toilets must be installed from Nilakkal to Sannidhanam, each staffed with a dedicated attendant.
- At Sannidhanam, 200 of the 423 rooms should be reserved exclusively for online booking to ensure fairness and transparency.
- Authorities must guarantee uninterrupted access to clean drinking water at Sannidhanam, Pamba, and along the trekking path.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan accused the government and the TDB of neglecting essential preparations ahead of the pilgrimage season. He alleged that devotees were left waiting for 10–15 hours in poorly managed queues, without proper crowd control or even basic water facilities.
