THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police continued to relax regulations imposed at Sabarimala and temporarily lifted the night travel ban which was imposed from 9 pm to 12 am from Pampa to Sannidhanam on Wednesday. SP Harishankar, special officer Pampa said that the restrictions imposed on trek from 9 pm to 12 am between Pampa and Sannidhanam have been temporarily lifted."The matter is sub judice and regulations on night travel have been temporarily revoked. A final decision may be made in accordance with the court order," said Harishankar. The police had introduced measures to control night travel citing lack of facilities at Pampa and as a crowd control method. Harishankar said that there was no regulation during day time also. The buses will operate without halt from Nilakkal to Pampa.This is the third relaxation in various regulatory measures introduced by police at Nilakkal, Pampa and Sannidhanam during this annual pilgrimage season. Earlier ban on overnight stay was exempted for devotees who take token for Neyyabhishekam. This was followed by opening up resting place at Valiya nadapanthal. The area had been cordoned off and pilgrims were not allowed to rest there for the first four days of opening of temple for Mandala kalam.The recent relaxations come in the wake of High court division bench slamming the police for excessive regulatory measures at Sabarimala. Human rights commission had also received a complaint on violation of human rights owing to regulations.The night travel ban had caused inconvenience to pilgrims who arrived around 8 pm at Nilakkal bus station as bus services would be halted from 8pm to 12 am and pilgrims were forced to spend their time in the resting place at Nilakkal for four hours.

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