Latest news with #MedaMasaPuja
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Time of India
Kerala high court seeks report on unauthorised occupants in donor houses at Sabarimala
Kochi: High court has sought reports from the chief police coordinator at Sabarimala and the Pampa station house officer, based on a report submitted by the Sabarimala special commissioner regarding unauthorised occupants in donor houses at Sannidhanam. The bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and P V Balakrishnan also directed both officials to submit, by Monday, the details of media/media persons and officers from various govt departments who left Sabarimala with the keys to rooms allotted for their stay at Sannidhanam. The court was hearing a petition related to devaswom matters. Earlier, the Sabarimala special commissioner had submitted a detailed report on the conduct of the annual festival and the 'Meda Masa Puja' at Sabarimala. The report stated that one of the rooms in the cellar portion of Sabari Guest House was permanently occupied by one Anilkumar on behalf of 'Kumaran Silks', and that the only room in Sivasakthi, DH 5, where tiles were laid, was also in the possession of 'Kumaran Silks'. The report further noted that some tiles in the Sabari Guest House were broken due to the breaking of coconuts inside the room, and it sought a directive to address the issue. On Tuesday, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) standing counsel informed HC that a report from the executive engineer of the Sabarimala development projects on the issue would be submitted by the next posting date. HC also sought instructions from the state and TDB regarding the disposal of 14 sacks of foreign coins and mutilated currency dumped in the old bhandaram, as highlighted in the special commissioner's report.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Time of India
Kerala high court seeks KSRTC's response on bus service disruption at Sabarimala
Kochi: High court has sought instructions from Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) regarding a report filed by the Sabarimala special commissioner which stated that chain services between Nilakkal and Pamba were halted without prior notice on April 16, during the annual holy festival and 'Meda Masa Puja. 'According to the report, the services were suspended at 7pm on April 16 without informing higher authorities, the police coordinator or the special commissioner, allegedly due to a diesel shortage at the Nilakkal petrol pump. While considering the report on Tuesday, a bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and M B Snehalatha directed KSRTC's counsel to get instructions regarding the alleged incident. The matter has been adjourned to May 20 for further report also highlighted that the disruption in the chain service of buses seriously affected devotees. It requested HC to issue directions to the concerned authorities to ensure that higher officials are informed promptly in such situations and that sufficient fuel is maintained at the devaswom board-owned petrol bunks at Nilakkal and Pamba to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Referring to an accident at Kanamala on April 16, which led to the death of one devotee and injuries to 27 others, the special commissioner recommended the deployment of one or two teams from the Safe Zone initiative during monthly pujas, citing the increasing flow of vehicles and addition, the court was informed that 13 devotees who had consumed food from Stall No 88 (Coffee Land Hotel at Pamba) were admitted to a govt hospital on suspicion of food poisoning. A temporary closure notice was issued to the hotel on April 12, and it reopened the following day after an inspection by the special squad. The special commissioner also refuted reports that currency notes were destroyed in a fire at Sabarimala, stating that the allegation was false and appeared to have been fabricated by certain staff members with ulterior motives. Meanwhile, it was observed that 14 sacks of damaged currency notes, along with a large quantity of foreign coins, lamps and bells were found dumped in the old and new bhandarams (temple treasuries).Finally, the report noted deviations in the moisture content of Appam and Aravana as observed in recent test reports. This was attributed to a mechanical defect in the boiler. Urgent maintenance was recommended, and the executive officer was directed to ensure that moisture levels remain within permissible limits.
