Today, On 19th November, The Kerala High Court criticised the poor crowd control at Sabarimala, noting that the situation went out of control due to a complete lack of proper coordination among officials. The court demanded immediate corrective measures from the administration.
Today, On 31st January, The Supreme Court declined to hear a PIL challenging VIP darshans at temples. While the court agreed that such special treatment should not be given, it stated that it could not pass orders on the matter. The judges acknowledged concerns over fairness in temple access. However, they emphasized that regulating religious practices is beyond their jurisdiction.
The Kerala High Court upheld the Travancore Devaswom Board’s mandate that the Melshanthi (High Priest) at Sabarimala Temple must be from the Malayala Brahmin community. The court dismissed challenges citing inadequate pleadings and affirmed the caste criteria. Controversy surrounds the constitutional rights and appointment process for this position. (Word count: 49)
