Kerala HC Seeks Details of Room Allocation Procedures at Sabarimala Following Vigilance Report Alleging Ambulance Driver Illegally Controlled Pamba Rooms
Kochi: The Kerala High Court has sought a detailed report from the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) following a vigilance finding that an ambulance driver stationed at Sabarimala allegedly took control of 25 rooms in the board’s Maramath Complex at Pamba and rented them out without authorisation.
A division bench comprising Justices V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and K.V. Jayakumar directed the TDB to furnish details regarding the current procedure for allotting rooms. The court also sought information on the total number of rooms available at Sannidhanam, the officers and employees responsible for their administration and allocation, and the measures in place to ensure transparency in the process. The report has been ordered to be submitted within 10 days.
The court was considering a report filed by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner concerning allegations related to room allotments at Sannidhanam and Pamba, along with the findings of the TDB’s Chief Vigilance and Security Officer.
According to the vigilance report, Sajeesh Kumar, an ambulance driver who has been working at Sabarimala for the past 15 years, had been residing in the Maramath Complex. During a raid, officials allegedly recovered 4.5 litres of foreign liquor from his possession. He was subsequently arrested and remains in judicial custody.
The report further alleged that nearly 25 rooms in the Maramath Complex were under Kumar’s effective control and that he had been renting them out to devotees without the sanction of the Travancore Devaswom Board.
Taking serious note of the allegations, the High Court observed that, if proven true, they would amount to a grave abuse of official position and indicate a complete failure in the supervision and administration of accommodation facilities managed by the TDB.
The bench also directed the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer to place on record the evidence and reasons that led the vigilance wing to reach its conclusions.
In addition, the court asked the Travancore Devaswom Board to explain the reasons for retaining Sajeesh Kumar at the same posting for an unusually long period of 15 years.