The Sabarimala Special Commissioner has sought a directive from the Kerala High Court to the police to provide pilgrims access to the ‘Mahakanikka’ at the Sannidhanam.
In a report filed before the Kerala High Court, the commissioner pointed out that the entry to the Mahakanikka side had been cordoned off by the police on security grounds.
As a result, devotees were not able to place their offering into the Mahakanikka, an important part of the rituals of the Ayyappa devotees.
The commissioner said only those having tokens for Neyyabhishekam and carrying Irumudikettu were permitted to stay overnight at the open spaces except at the Valyanadappandal and lower Thirumuttam.
Special security zone
The Inspector General of Police in charge of crowd control had also told him that pilgrims who had darshan were not allowed to stay overnight and for long periods at the Sannidhanam as it was a special security zone notified under the Kerala Police Act. Besides, the police wanted to avoid protests and mob violence there. The pilgrims were not allowed to sit at the Nadappandal, he said.
The police informed the commissioner that the Valiyanadappandal and lower Thirumuttam were maintained as separate zones in view of the protests and vigilantism there when the temple was opened after the Supreme Court verdict.
The lower Thirumuttam was cordoned off with barricades leaving a path for pilgrims to access the appam and aravana counters. However, the Mahakanikka box was inaccessible.
The commissioner also sought a directive to the KSRTC to maintain smooth chain service .
The operation of KSRTC buses was synchronised with the opening and closing of the temple and the services were stopped from Nilackal by 9 p.m. every day.
He also sought a directive to the TDB to properly maintain the toilet blocks at Pampa and complete the work of the Annadanam hall there at the earliest.
