Soon after the Kerala High Court came down heavily on the Kerala Communist government for interfering unnecessarily in the daily affairs of Sabarimala temple, the temple administrator, Travancore Devaswom Board Chairman, A Padmakumar on Tuesday guaranteed that the Communist government would stop interfering in the temple affairs, reported Mathrubhumi.
Reportedly, Devaswom Travancore Devaswom Board President A Padmakumar said that the government will not interfere in the religious activities conducted in the Sabarimala Ayyapa temple after Kerala High Court had slammed Pinarayi Vijayan government for putting excess pressure on the temple administration. Padmakumar said that no one from outside will be allowed to interfere in the administration of the Sabarimala temple.
He further added that the Devaswom board manages the temple activities and assured that rituals starting from opening the ‘nada’ (Sanatorium door) till closing it with the song ‘Harivarasanam’ will be conducted according to ‘Padithala Vyavastha’(religious customs).
The High Court of Kerala hearing three petitions regarding the excess of Kerala government in the Sabarimala issue on Monday had warned the LDF government’s for its undue interference in Sabarimala’s religious affairs and asked the government to restrict itself to providing adequate security to the devotees visiting the shrine.
However, Padmakumar said that avoiding government’s interference in temple activities is not completely right as the government has taken proper actions before in such complicated issues.
Recently, the Kerala High Court while hearing a petition seeking to restrict entry of non-Hindus in Sabarimala temple, had expressed its displeasure over the police excesses at the Sabarimala temple. The HC had also asked the state government to initiate an inquiry against the police personnel who had been involved in vandalising private properties and take proper action.
The Sabarimala shrine which had recently witnessed a complete turmoil was reopened for devotees on November for its one-day festival of Chithira Atta Vishesham. The Kerala Communist government with the help of state police force had turned the area near Sabarimala into a war zone after some devotees had clashed with the police. The Kerala police had reportedly resorted to stone pelting and lathi charging against devotees after situation went out of control.
We had earlier reported regarding Kerala government’s plan to fortify the areas around the Sabarimala with a massive police force to take control of the entry and exit of the devotees so that it can allow women and activists to enter the Sabarimala shrine.
The Supreme Court in a controversial judgement had ordered to allow women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala shrine against the age-old Hindu traditions of not allowing women of reproductive age to enter the shrine.
