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In a relief for the CM Pinarayi Vijayan-led government, the Kerala High Court Thursday dismissed the petitions challenging the Global Ayyappa devotees Sangamam, clearing the way for the event, scheduled to be held on September 20, but laid down some conditions “in the larger interest of maintaining the sanctity of Sabarimala and the ecological balance of the holy River Pampa”.
Hearing the petitions, a division bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar said, “We find no reason to interdict the conduct of the sangamam.”
Laying down the conditions, the court said, “These directions are issued to guarantee that the event is undertaken in a manner that preserves the sanctity of Sabarimala, protects the environment, ensures financial transparency, and secures the rights, safety, and spiritual experience of ordinary pilgrims as paramount.”
The court said that the participation of dignitaries should not impair the facilities or spiritual experience of ordinary pilgrims; the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) — a state government body that manages the Sabarimala shrine — shall maintain transparent accounts reflecting the total estimated cost of the event, together with the contributions received from sponsors, and such accounts shall be subject to audit.
A copy thereof shall be placed before the court, the bench said, adding that all participants shall be treated solely as devotees of Lord Ayyappa, and no special benefit or priority would be accorded, either for visiting the temple or for any related purpose.
The petitioners had alleged that the attempt to conduct a summit in the name of Lord Ayyappa is motivated purely by political considerations, and that the Board cannot be made a participant in such political designs.
However, the Board submitted before the court that the objectives of the conclave include the participation of religious scholars and devotees from around the world and the projection of Sabarimala as a Global Pilgrimage Centre.
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The event, organised to mark the 75 years of TDB, had sparked a controversy in Kerala with the Congress, the BJP and various Sangh Parivar organisations questioning the political motive of the CPI(M) government, which in 2018 had been blamed for facilitating the entry of young women to the hill shrine following a Supreme Court directive.
The Congress and the BJP demanded that the state government withdraw its affidavit in the top court, favouring the entry of young women at the temple. However, the government got the support of prominent Hindu organisations the NSS and the SNDP Yogam for the event.
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