Court allows light vehicles to Pampa

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Tuesday allowed private light motor vehicles (LMVs) including the ones with 15 seaters carrying Sabarimala pilgrims to Pampa and back.

The Bench of Justice C.T. Ravikumar and Justice N. Nagaresh also made it clear that these vehicles should not be allowed to park on the roadside between Pampa and Nilackal.

The court ordered the vehicles drop the passengers at Pampa and return to Nilackal for parking.

When the Ayyappa devotees reach Pampa after offering prayers at the temple, the vehicle could return to Pampa and pick the pilgrims.

The order came on a petition filed by P. Prasannakumar of Alappuzha. He sought a directive to permit LMVs to ply up to Pampa and park at Pampa hilltop, Triveni and Chakkuppallam I and II.

Curbs last year

The government had imposed restrictions on the entry of vehicles to Pampa last year following the devastation and damage at Pampa in the floods.

When the case was taken up for hearing, State Attorney K.V. Sohan submitted that the government had taken a decision to allow light vehicles to reach Pampa. Once the pilgrims alight from the vehicles, the vehicles should be taken back to Nilackal for parking.

The court also said that the order would not be applicable in the case of two-wheelers and they will not be permitted to ride from Nilackal to Pampa.