Sabarimala meant for devotees, says Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court Tuesday observed that Sabarimala was meant for devotees and that the state government should identify those who have an agenda to spoil the peaceful atmosphere at the Lord Ayyappa shrine.

Expressing concern over the situation prevailing in Sabarimala, the court said if the government was not able to control the situation, outside agencies could be brought in.

Sabarimala Special Commissioner, through his report, submitted that protesters opposing the entry of women in the menstruating age into the shrine have become more vigilant and it will be difficult to provide them protection as every day one lakh devotees trek the hills to offer prayers.

Considering a batch of pleas related to the Sabarimala issue, a division bench of Justices P R Ramachandra Menon and N Anilkumar wanted to know as to why police permitted a private vehicle carrying women from an activist group to Pamba from Nilackal recently.

The court also wanted to know whether the two women of reproductive age, who had entered the shrine on