The Hindu : Front Page : Supreme Court stays ban on VIP darshan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Supreme Court stays ban on VIP darshan

Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a Kerala High Court judgment banning VIP darshan inside the cabin in front of the sanctum sanctorum of Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.

A Bench of Justice A. K. Mathur and Justice Markandey Katju stayed the impugned judgment after it was pointed out that it greatly affected the pilgrims visiting the temple. The Bench listed the matter for final disposal in the third week of August.

The High Court passed the order on December 19, 2005, acting on a report filed by the Special Commissioner for Sabarimala.

According to the report, the pilgrims standing in the regular queue faced a lot of difficulties because of the special queue for VIPs. The general devotees could not have darshan of Lord Ayyappa, as the people standing in the special queue inside the cabin blocked their vision. The special leave petition (SLP) by Ravikumar and Rajam Krishnan was directed against this order.

When senior counsel K. K. Venugopal, appearing for the Travancore Devasom Board, submitted that this was an extraordinary order, the Bench said, "judiciary must maintain restraint. If they start interfering in such matters, there will be religious riots. Let the Board manage its affairs."

Mr. Venugopal submitted that nearly two million devotees from across the country visited the temple and for performing special pujas, one had to make bookings two to three years in advance. They were now being asked to go to the queue and stand in line with the general queue and not allowed to take part in the special puja offered by them. He said even children and the handicapped were not being allowed inside the special cabin.

Appearing for the petitioners, senior counsel C. S. Vaidyanathan pleaded for a stay of the impugned judgment, as it was causing a lot of difficulties to the devotees. Appearing for the Special Commissioner, senior counsel T. L. Viswanatha Iyer, however, opposed the stay of the judgment, and said children and handicapped would be allowed if only one person accompanied them.

The SLP contended that the appointment of the Special Commissioner was only for administrative reasons and it was not for any interference with the method and manner of function of the pujas, darshan and so on. The Commissioner's report had the effect of interfering with the religious practice being followed from time immemorial by ordinary pilgrims.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page