The powers of the Travancore Devaswom Board at Sabarimala have been affected by the intervention in its affairs by a large number of government departments and agencies, Public Works Minister G. Sudhakaran has said.
Talking to reporters at Sabarimala on Sunday, Mr. Sudhakaran, who is also a former Devaswom Minister, said the High Court may examine whether such intervention was needed in Sabarimala.
Trupti Desai’s move
Responding to the statement made by the Bhumata Brigade leader and women’s rights activist Trupti Desai that she would enter Sabarimala, defying the restrictions imposed on women’s entry, Mr. Sudhakaran said nobody was above law.
“Whether it is Ms. Desai or any other person visiting Sabarimala, they have to abide by the prevailing rules, norms and customs there,” he said.
Mr. Sudhakaran said Ms. Desai’s stand that she would enter Sabarimala in defiance of rules would only weaken her fight for equal justice.
“The government has got a different opinion regarding women’s entry to Sabarimala and it has already conveyed the matter through an affidavit filed before the apex court. Let the court decide,” Mr. Sudhakaran said.
The Minister also took strong exception to the IAS officers’ decision to go on a day’s casual leave on Monday, objecting to Vigilance action against some of their colleagues. He said the IAS-IPS spat was not at all healthy trend.
Mr. Sudhakaran said the Public Works Department had completed repair works on 276 roads well before the beginning of the ongoing annual pilgrim season.
