Kerala HC directs Finance dept. official to attend Sabarimala Master Plan committee meetings
Kochi, June 30: The Kerala High Court has directed the State government to ensure the participation of a senior officer from the Finance Department in the meetings of the high-power committee constituted to implement the Sabarimala master plan.
The directive came while the court was hearing a suo motu case concerning the difficulties faced in crowd management during the previous Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.
A Division Bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and K.V. Jayakumar observed that the presence of an officer not below the rank of Additional Secretary from the Finance Department was essential for the committee’s effective functioning. The Bench noted that one of the recurring issues highlighted before the court was the delay in the disbursement of funds despite adequate budgetary allocations.
“The committee meets only periodically, and we find no reason why the presence of such an officer cannot be ensured, at the very least, once every month,” the court stated. It also directed the Government Pleader to obtain and place appropriate instructions before the court on the matter.
The Bench further held that, considering the scope and nature of the responsibilities entrusted to the committee chairman, he should be entitled to receive the same honorarium as that payable to the Ombudsman.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 1.
The Sabarimala master plan aims to address the essential needs of millions of pilgrims while safeguarding the ecologically sensitive environment surrounding the hill shrine. Once fully implemented, the plan is expected to streamline pilgrim movement, reduce congestion at Pampa and along trekking routes, and facilitate the development of queue complexes and other supporting infrastructure.