The Kerala High Court appointed a 3-member monitoring committee on Monday which visited Pamba and the base camp of Nilakkal to check the facilities available for pilgrims who come to the Sabarimala temple.
The committee, consisting of Justice S Sirijagan (retd.), Justice PR Raman (retd.) and Hemachandran IPS, visited the site on Monday evening.
DGP Hemachandran IPS who visited the site on Monday said that a false campaign was going on to portray the temple and its surroundings as a place with no facilities. He also asked the media to show the real picture. However, he noted that more facilities should be given to the police officers who were deployed here to ensure that no violence or protests break out near the temple.
The members will visit the Sabarimala Sannidhanam on Tuesday and conduct discussions with various departments including the Travancore Devaswom Board which takes care of the temple.
The committee which held its first meeting at Aluva, said that they would inspect the existing facilities at the temple before suggesting new ones. The 3-member committee was appointed following widespread complaints over the lack of facilities in Sabarimala.
Committee member Justice PR Raman said that they will review availability of basic needs such as food and water and sanitation facilities.
Meanwhile, the state government has moved the apex court asking for the pending HC cases related to Sabarimala to be transferred to the Supreme Court. The government also moved the SC against the appointment of the 3-member panel to inspect Sabarimala. In the government petition, it said that the High Court’s rulings were going against the spirit of the constitutional bench’s judgement.