Apex court grants VIP darshan in Sabarimala

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday granted permission to Sabarimala Ayyappa temple authorities in Kerala to continue with the practice of according ‘special queue darshan’ for VIPs and devotees performing ‘special poojas’ at the shrine.

A Bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhan and Dalveer Bhandari granted the permission after accepting a proposal submitted by the Travancore Devaswam Board (TDB) to regulate the queue by restricting the number of persons accompanying the VIPs and the devotees conducting special paid poojas at the premises.

The Friday’s decision by the apex court to allow the VIPs special darshan ends the ban imposed by the Kerala High Court passed last year on any such privileges for the high and mighty of the land. The high court had banned special privileges to the VIPs allowing them to stand in a cabin before the garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple, on receiving complaints that such practices were affecting the darshan and the entry of general devotees.