Kerala High Court Orders Strict Ban on Dumping Clothes in Pampa River During Sabarimala Pilgrimage
Kochi: The Kerala High Court has directed that devotees be strictly prevented from disposing of clothes in the Pampa River during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season. Pointing out that no such religious practice exists, the Devaswom Bench comprising Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K.V. Jayakumar issued strict instructions to the Travancore Devaswom Board and the local administration to ensure that earlier court orders prohibiting the dumping of clothes into the river are being properly enforced.
The court also directed that if these instructions are violated, the Special Commissioner must bring the matter to the court’s attention. The Pampa River must be completely cleaned before the next pilgrimage season begins on November 15. The court further ordered that scientifically sound waste-management methods that do not harm the environment should be adopted.
Based on the Special Commissioner’s report stating that 97 percent of the waste in the Pampa had been removed, the High Court closed the proceedings in the suo motu case it had initiated.