Thiruvananthapuram: Section 144 that prohibits assembly of more than four people in an area has been extended till midnight of December 8 in Sabarimala.
The decision has been taken based on the report by the Special Officer and Additional Magistrate in charge.
Earlier today, a three-member monitoring committee appointed by the Kerala High Court had visited the Sabarimala Temple to review the situation there. The committee was appointed to ensure smooth pilgrimage to the Temple after numerous complaints about lack of facilities in the hill-top shrine were reported.
The members of the committee include retired Justice PR Raman, Justice S.Sirijagan and ADGP Hemachandran, who will assess and submit suggestions to ensure the needs of the devotees are fulfilled.
The Sabarimala temple and surrounding areas witnessed a string of protests recently over the Supreme Court’s September 28 order that lifted the ban on the entry of women between the age group of 10 to 50 years inside the Lord Ayyappa temple.
Till now, no woman of the previously-forbidden age group has been able to enter the temple due to widespread protests.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]