Summary:
Kochi, Dec 5 (PTI) The Kerala High Court has sought the stand of the state government with regard to the medical facilities that would be made available on the Neelimala-Appachimedu route, if it is opened, to the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala.
The court also sought the stand of the state government and Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) with regard to pilgrims" complaints that excess bus fare was being collected from them and sufficient numbers of buses were not being provided.
These issues were brought to the court"s attention in the reports submitted by the Special Commissioner, Sabarimala.
Based on the reports, the high court initiated two writ petitions on its own -- one to deal with the issue of medical facilities that need to be provided to pilgrims if the additional Neelimala-Appachimedu route to the Lord Ayyappa temple is opened and the second regarding the KSRTC services.
As part of the second petition, the court is also considering the suggestions in the report to increase verification counters at Nilakkal to verify the vaccination certificates and Virtual-Q coupons of the pilgrims arriving there before being transported to Pamba at the foothills of Sabarimala.
The Special Commissioner, Sabarimala, in one of his reports, has said that if the additional route to the temple is opened then cardiologists and physicians will have to be posted at Neelimala and Appachimedu cardiology centres and sufficient number of Emergency Medical Centres will also have to be set up along the trek path.