No toll collection from vehicles coming to Sabarimala: Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court today prohibited toll collection from vehicles coming to the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala.

A division bench, comprising Justice Thothathil B Radhakrishnan and Justice CT Ravikumar, which gave the order, clarified that its stay against toll collection would not impair the right of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the temple, to collect parking fee in land belonging to it or under its leasehold right.

The court also said that collection shall be made only from the parking site and not from entry routes.

The order was issued while considering a report of the Sabarimala special commissioner on various matters relating to the temple.

The court said the TDB had no authority to collect toll without a notification.

The board informed the court it was not collecting toll, but only levying parking fee from vehicles.