Making it clear that it will not interfere in administrative decisions, the Supreme Court on Monday rejected a public interest writ petition for a direction to Travancore Dewasom Board to permit servi
Making it clear that it will not interfere in administrative decisions, the Supreme Court on Monday rejected a public interest writ petition for a direction to Travancore Dewasom Board to permit serving of free food to pilgrims visiting Sabarimala.
A vacation Bench of Justices S.A. Bobde and Prafulla C. Pant, told the counsel for the petitioners “This is an administrative problem how to serve food to each pilgrim and not a legal problem. The Board didn’t prevent you from serving food. It says a Trust will be made and through the trust food will be served freely. This has been accepted by the Kerala high court. You pay to the trust.” When counsel submitted that pilgrims from Tamil Nadu and Andhra should be served Andhra food, the bench asked, “You are serving the Pilgrims. Why do you want Andhra food. Let the pilgrims eat Kerala food. It’s not a matter for this court to decide and intervene.”
Petitioners from TN and Andhra wanted court’s nod to serve food freely to the pilgrims. They argued that pilgrims have to walk 50 km to reach the temple in the forest and the board managing the temple has prevented them from serving free food.
They said the Temple board has no infrastructure and staff to serve food and the petitioners had been serving food for several years. Sensing the mood of the court petitioners withdrew their petitions with liberty to approach the Kerala High court for relief.
