'Ensure Sabarimala Pilgrims Don't Dump Clothes In River Pamba': Kerala High Court Directs TDB To Take Necessary Steps, Closes Suo Motu Plea

The Kerala High Court on Friday (May 29) closed the suo motu petition initiated to address the issue of dumping of Sabarimala pilgrims' clothes in the River Pamba after noting that 97% of the waste dumped has been removed.

The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and local authorities concerned to ensure that dumping of clothes is prohibited and its earlier directions in the case are complied with.

"Having gone through the entire records and the submissions of the counsels, we find that almost 97% of the clothes have been removed. We direct that it shall be the duty of the Devaswom Board as well as the local authorities concerned to ensure that dumping of clothes is prohibited during the next season for which necessary direction shall be issued and steps shall also be taken. With these directions, we direct the respondents to take note of the orders that have been passed by this Court in connection with the aforesaid matter and ensure that clothes are not dumped. If there are violations of the directions issued as above, it would be open to the Special Commissioner or any of the respondents to approach this Court so that necessary action shall be taken as against the respondents concerned. This SSCR is closed," the Court observed, closing the plea.

In its earlier orders, the Court had directed the Devaswom Board that remedial and restorative measures ought to be undertaken with efficiency and to ensure that the Pamba river is properly cared for during the season and inter-seasonal period. The Devaswom was further asked to take measures to permit the river to recuperate and regenerate before the onset of the next pilgrim season, which is scheduled to commence on 15th November, 2026.

The Court has also called for a joint inspection by a team of officers from the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, the Suchitwa Mission and the Health officer of the Ranni-Perinnad Panchayat in co-ordination with the officers of the TDB. They were directed to inspect the affection portions of the river Pamba, assess the extend of pollution, the accumulation of waste and recommend appropriate measures to ensure that all discarded clothes and waste materials are removed as early as possible and the holy river is maintained in a clean and ecologically-sustained condition.

They were also to suggest effective measures for the continued protection, restoration and maintenance of the river. It was clarified that the Devaswom Board would have the collective responsibility to ensure that the dumped clothes are removed by the contractor concerned or through any lawful and appropriate measures and to carry out the exercise in an environmentally-sustainable manner strictly adhering to scientific methods and statutory waste management protocols. 

With these observations, the Court disposed of the suo motu plea initiated on the basis of the report of the Sabarimala Special Commissioner.

Case No: SSCR No. 43 of 2025

Case Title: Suo Motu v. State of Kerala and Ors.

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 298

Amicus Curiae for the Special Commissioner: Sayujya Radhakrishnan