The Kerala High Court has instructed the Motor Vehicles Department to inform drivers transporting Sabarimala pilgrims about road conditions and safe practices to prevent accidents.

The Kerala High Court acknowledged two accidents involving a bus and a contract carriage transporting Sabarimala pilgrims. It reinforced its previous 2022 order, instructing the Police and Motor Vehicles Department to educate drivers of vehicles carrying these pilgrims, particularly contract carriages, about road conditions and safe practices to prevent incidents. The earlier order also included measures to address the behavior of negligent drivers. The Division Bench, consisting of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S., stated that the Transport Commissioner, along with relevant Enforcement Officers in the Motor Vehicles Department and those in the Safe Zone Project, must ensure strict adherence to the court’s directives.

Deputy Solicitor General of India Manu S. and Senior Government Pleader S. Rajmohan represented the Respondents. The Special Commissioner for Sabarimala submitted an additional report, which included a Motor Vehicles Department report about a fire incident involving a KSRTC low-floor bus without passengers on the Nilakkal-Pamba route. The bus, used for the Nilakkal-Pamba chain service, was believed to have caught fire due to an electrical short circuit. A Quick Response Team promptly arrived to restore traffic. The court was also informed of another accident involving a contract carriage carrying pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, which occurred at Attivalavu on the Erumeli-Kanamala road.

In a previous order from 2022, the High Court instructed the Police and the Enforcement Wing of the Motor Vehicles Department to strictly follow guidelines. These guidelines required officials in the Motor Vehicles Department, near the Edathavalams/Temples that serve Sabarimala pilgrims, to inform drivers of vehicles transporting these pilgrims, particularly contract carriages and other vehicles from nearby states, to prevent any accidents in the Ghat area leading to Pamba. They were also told to take steps to educate drivers who violate rules. Based on these facts and the report, the Bench ordered the Transport Commissioner and the relevant Enforcement Officers in the Motor Vehicles Department, including those involved in the Safe Zone Project, to ensure adherence to the Court’s orders.

The Special Commissioner for Sabarimala submitted a report about installing streetlights from Naranamthodu to Elavunkal. In response, the Bench instructed the Registry to add this information to the Judges’ papers of this SSCR and to provide a copy to the Senior Government Pleader and the respective Standing Counsel.

Cause Title: Suo Motu v. The Union Of India [Case No.- SSCR NO. 78 OF 2024]