Apex court declines to grant State early hearing

Plea against HC’s ‘team of observers’ for Sabarimala

The Supreme Court on Friday declined to grant the Kerala government early hearing on its plea against a State High Court order appointing a ‘team of observers’ with blanket powers to take spot decisions and give instructions to the police to ensure a smooth pilgrimage at the Sabarimala temple.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said the petition would come up in the regular course of hearing.

The State wants a November 27 High Court order appointing the committee to be set aside. The government said the High Court order has effectively “shredded all the powers of the State administration” and will jeopardise the regulations and restrictions put in place by the Kerala Police to implement the Supreme Court judgment of September 28 allowing women of all age to undertake the pilgrimage.

The committee of observers, which comprises two former judges of the High Court and a serving IPS officer of the State, will have “overall supervision and powers to take on-the-spot decisions or to give proper instructions to all concerned to give effect to this order and to ensure that smooth pilgrimage is facilitated and there occurs no excuse from any corner” in respect of the Sabarimala temple pilgrimage.

Sweeping powers

“The High Court has given sweeping powers to a committee of observers which may give executive directions to various agencies and stakeholders.

This is not in the interest of the implementation of the order of the Supreme Court,” the State contended.