HC appoints high-power committee for Sabarimala

Kochi, Oct 14 (UNI) The Kerala High Court today appointed a 11-member high-power committee with State additional Chief Secretary K Jayakumar as Chairman to make necessary arrangments for the upcoming festival season at the hill shrine of Sabarimala.

A Division Bench comprising Justices P R Raman and T R Ramachandran cosntituted the committee with Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President and its members, Devaswom Commissioner, TDB Secretary, Special Commissioner to Sabarimala, Home Secretary, Director General of Police or his nominee, PWD Chief Engineer and Pattanamthitta District Collector as its members.

The court made it clear that the committe will have absolute authority regarding affairs relating to the holy shrine during the season.

The committee will also co-ordinate the acitivities of the Devaswom Board and the Government departments concerned.

Besides, the committee will supervise the working of the volunteers and effectively prevent charging exhorbitant prices for food and other materials, the court said.

The court also observed that necessary funds shall be made available by the TDB and expenditure more than Rs five lakh needs the ratification of the High Court.

The order was issued while considring a report filed by Devaswom Board ombudsman Justice R Bhaskaran to the High Court complaining about the lack of infrastructure facilities at Sabarimala.

UNI XR MA KKS1800