Summary:
Kochi, Feb 16 (PTI) The Kerala High Court on Wednesday termed as "illegal" the permission granted by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to a Delhi-based trust to put up constructions for holding a nine-day-long "Ramakatha" programme at Pamba-Manalppuram area of Pathanamthitta district and directed that the temporary structures be removed "forthwith".
A bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and P G Ajithkumar said land at Pamba-Manalppuram was leased out to the TDB for the specific purpose of providing pilgrim facilities and therefore, it should not have permitted the trust to put up the structures for conducting the programme.
The court said the constructions were going on from January 24 and by now a major portion of Pamba-Manalppuram was occupied by the temporary structures which was "causing obstruction and inconvenience" to the pilgrims proceeding through there to Sannidhanam at Sabarimala from February 13 in connection with the "Kumbamasa Pooja".
"No such construction can be permitted in Pamba-Manalppuram and therefore, such constructions will have to be removed forthwith.
No such constructions can be utilised for conducting the programme "Ramakatha" by the 10th respondent (trust) from February 19, 2022 till February 27, 2022.
"Any permission granted by the Travancore Devaswom Board for undertaking such constructions, is per se illegal," the bench said.