Tue Nov 19 15:32:09 UTC 2024: ## Kerala High Court Orders Peaceful Transfer of Sabarimala Buildings, Monitors Pilgrim Crowd Control
**Sabarimala, Kerala – November 19, 2024** – The Kerala High Court today intervened in several matters related to the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season, directing authorities to ensure smooth operations and prevent potential conflicts.
The court ordered the Pampa police station’s Station House Officer (SHO) to maintain law and order during the handover of buildings occupied by the Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham to the Sabarimala Executive Officer. These buildings have been closed for over a year due to internal disputes within the Sangham. The Travancore Devaswom Board reported that a similar handover has already been successfully completed for another building.
Separately, the court heard a suo moto case concerning preparations for the pilgrimage. The Chief Police Coordinator reported that crowd management is under control, with a total footfall of 75,959 pilgrims on November 18th, and 70,000 virtual queue bookings for November 19th. The queue extended to Sharamkuthi between 4 pm and 6 pm on the 18th.
Finally, the High Court directed the Kerala Water Authority to submit a report on drinking water provisions at Nilakkal and Pampa during the Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season. These actions demonstrate the court’s proactive approach to ensuring a safe and well-organized pilgrimage for devotees.
First Piper 