Overview

• On September 17, the Supreme Court declined to interfere with a Kerala High Court interim order permitting the Pampa conclave and directed that the High Court’s conditions be strictly followed.
• The High Court’s directions require no permanent or intrusive structures, a ban on non-biodegradable waste, robust crowd and medical arrangements, equal treatment without special privileges, and audited, itemised accounts to be filed within 45 days.
• The Travancore Devaswom Board, with state logistical support, says the sponsor-funded event will cost about ₹7 crore, will host roughly 3,500 shortlisted participants, and will run sessions on the Sabarimala master plan, pilgrimage tourism, and crowd management.
• Political opposition has intensified ahead of the meet, with Congress and BJP leaders alleging electoral motives; Congress leader K. C. Venugopal publicly accused the government of hypocrisy over Sabarimala.
• Members of the Pandalam Palace will stay away, citing bereavement while objecting to the government’s failure to withdraw 2018 protest cases, as the courts leave broader legal questions for the High Court to examine after the event.