Bring new law to run Sabarimala: SC to Kerala

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Kerala government to enact a law exclusively for the administration of Sabarimala temple on the lines of Tirupati and Guruvayur temples.

Asking Kerala government to come out with a separate law for the administration of Sabarimala temple and the welfare of the pilgrims, a bench of Justice N.V. Ramana, Justice R. Subhash Reddy and Justice B.R. Gavai gave the state government time till January next year to frame the law.

The court asked Kerala government to place the proposed law before it by the third week of January.

At present the Sabarimala temple is administered by the Travancore Devaswom Board created under the Travancore-Coachuin Hindu Religious Institutions Act.

While giving Kerala time to come forward with a separate law for the administration of Sabarimala temple, the court took exception that it had directed the State government come forward with the exclusive law for the administration of the historic temple and the welfare of the pilgrims but all that it has come forward is with draft amendments to the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act.

Telling Kerala government that this was not enough, the court said that there was a need for a separate law for the administration of the temple.

During hearing on August 28, 2019, the top court was told by Kerala government that itb was considering enacting a separate legislation with regard to the administration of the Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Swamy Temple.

Having apprised the court of its intention to enact a separate law for the administration of Sabarimala temple, Kerala had sought the adjournment of the hearing and since then the matter was listed today.