Petition filed by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) seeking permission to operate vehicles offering free transport for Sabarimala pilgrims, in the Supreme Court.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Supreme Court of India announced plans to formulate guidelines designed to guarantee impartial and transparent probes in cases that include the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) and officials from state governments. Petition filed by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) seeking permission to operate vehicles offering free transport for Sabarimala pilgrims, in the Supreme Court.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India, Today(January 25), took cognizance of a petition by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which seeks authorization to provide complimentary transportation services for pilgrims traveling to the revered Sabarimala shrine. The apex court has issued notices to the State of Kerala and the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), requesting their responses on this matter.
The petition, a Special Leave Petition, challenges a previous verdict by the Kerala High Court in April 2023, which denied the VHP’s request. The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan, heard the plea.
Senior Advocate V Chitambaresh, representing the VHP, presented the case before the bench. He highlighted that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, vehicles were permitted to travel up to Pampa, the starting point of the 6-kilometer trek to the Sabarimala temple. The route in question, stretching 22 kilometers from Nilakkal to Pampa, is currently exclusively serviced by KSRTC buses.
Chitambaresh emphasized the VHP’s intention to offer free transportation services, a proposal that the government has not approved. Currently, only KSRTC buses are authorized to operate on this route. He underscored the plight of the pilgrims, stating,
“Lakhs and lakhs of devotees are coming there. They are waiting for 28 hours, 30 hours in serpentine queues. The KSRTC is not running sufficient buses. They are not in good condition too.”
The VHP’s proposal before the High Court included the provision of free transportation from Nilakkal to Pamba and back, using 20 leased contract carriages. However, the High Court observed that allowing the petitioner to operate special permit vehicles with specific pick-up and drop-off points would essentially equate to operating a stage carriage with corridor restrictions, thereby violating existing permit conditions.
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This case, now awaits further proceedings in the Supreme Court, as the nation’s top judicial body delves into the complexities of this transportation issue, which holds significant implications for the thousands of pilgrims visiting the sacred Sabarimala shrine.
CASE TITLE:
Vishwa Hindu Parishad Kerala v. State of Kerala Diary No. 1752-2024
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