Sabarimala monitoring committee arrives at Nilakkal base camp

A three-member monitoring committee appointed by the Kerala High Court arrived at the Nilakkal base camp on Monday ahead of their visit to Sabarimala to take stock of the situation.

The committee was appointed to ensure smooth pilgrimage to the shrine temple after numerous complaints about the lack of facilities in the hill pilgrimage were reported.

The members of the committee include Justice PR Raman, Justice S.Sirijagan and ADGP Hemachandran, who will assess and submit suggestions to ensure the needs of the devotees are fulfilled.

Elaborating upon the committee's plan of action, Justice Raman had said after Sunday's meeting: "During our visit to Pampa, Nilakkal, and Sannidhanam, we will assess the existing facilities. If any addition of facilities is required we will suggest that too. Our top priority will be basic needs, like toilets and water facility. These things should be available for all. Food must be served properly. These are the things that will be assessed."

A four-member delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Members of Parliament (MP) had met Kerala Governor P Sathasivam on Sunday seeking "urgent intervention and appropriate action" to restore "peace and tranquillity in Sabarimala temple."

The delegation also submitted its complaint to the Governor with regards to the difficulties faced by the devotees and lack of facilities in Sabarimala.

The Sabarimala temple and surrounding areas witnessed a string of protests recently over the Supreme Court's September 28 order that lifted the ban on the entry of women between the age group of 10 to 50 years inside the Lord Ayyappa temple.

Till now, no woman of the previously-forbidden age group has been able to enter the temple due to widespread protests.