Kerala High Court Issues Comprehensive Directions to Stop Cloth Dumping In Pampa River During Sabarimala Season

The Kerala High Court on Friday (28 November) has issued a set of directives to curb the widespread practice of dumping clothes along the banks of the Pampa river.The Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar passed the order while considering a suo motu proceeding initiated on the basis of a report submitted by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner.The Special Commissioner reported that the banks of the river Pampa and the steps leading to the river are being littered with discarded clothes left by the devotees. It was further recorded that despite Kuthaka being granted to remove the accumulated clothes, the work has been ineffective. Photographs produced before the Court showed garments floating in the river and strewn across the steps, an issue the Bench described as causing serious and cumulative ecological harm. “Cotton garments absorb water and settle on the riverbed, interfering with the natural flow of the river, creating stagnant pockets, reducing dissolved oxygen levels, and placing considerable stress on aquatic life. Fish become trapped in these cloth bundles, and the slow decomposition of fibres increases the biochemical oxygen demand of the river. The dumped garments also obstruct natural drainage channels, encourage the spread of invasive vegetation, and contribute to water stagnation and bank erosion.” the Court noted. The Bench observed that the practice, though common, is wholly non-ritualistic practice and contradicts the principles of purity central to the worship of Lord Ayyappa. “When thousands of pilgrims dump their clothes into the river, the sanctity of this holy site is disturbed. The river, which symbolises purification, cannot itself be made impure by heaps of discarded garments floating on its surface and gathering on its steps. Polluting the Holy river contradicts the very principle of purity and restraint that forms the core of Ayyappa worship.” Court observed. The Court further observed that the Board should take efforts to keep Pampa clean, and added: “Ensuring cleanliness is not a mere administrative duty but a continuation of dharma, honouring the Lord by keeping His surroundings pure.”The Court thus issued a set of directions to the Travancore Dewaswom Board (TDB), Police, and other authorities to implement without delay. Those are as follows:Pilgrims must be given clear and consistent instructions in advance of their arrival at Pampa. Steps shall be taken to ensure announcements are made from buses, KSRTC stands, and queue complexes informing pilgrims that dumping clothes into the Pampa is environmentally harmful and expressly prohibited. Visual boards displaying simple messages such as “Dumping cloth pollutes the Pampa — Prohibited under law” in all vernacular languages shall be placed at every entry point. Heavy duty garment disposal bins to be placed at intervals of 50 metres with colour coded signage. Deployment of 30 employees under the kuthaka arrangement along with additional employees from Dewaswom and volunteers concerned with environmental protection. Police Personnel shall all be present for direct interdiction whenever necessary. Continuous audio announcements from ten mobile hand-held speakers placed across the stretch in Pampa, with messages broadcasting in all vernacular languages. CCTV surveillance every 50 metres to deter dumping and monitor staff performance. Polite volunteer intervention to redirect pilgrims carrying garments to disposal bins. Control and monitoring system to be operated in three shifts for round-the-clock vigilance. A rapid response team of ten members to patrol the entire stretch and remoce stray dumped clothes. The Court expressed confidence that if the plan is faithfully implemented for one full pilgrimage season,”dumping of cloth into the river would reduce by 60–70%, improving water flow velocity, lowering Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels and turbidity, reducing fish mortality, and keeping riverbanks clean and accessible.The Bench directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to implement all measures forthwith and submit a compliance report within ten days. The matter has been posted for further consideration on December 12, 2025. Case Title: Suo Motu v State of Kerala and Ors. Case No: SSCR 43/ 2025Click Here To Read/ Download Interim Order

Kerala High Court Issues Comprehensive Directions to Stop Cloth Dumping In Pampa River During Sabarimala Season

Anamika MJ

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