"How did he occupy a room in Sabarimala for 10 years?" High Court rejects special consideration for Sunil Swamy

SANNIDHANAM: The High Court has ruled that controversial businessman Sunil Swamy should not be given any special consideration in Sabarimala. The court also clarified that Sunil Swamy should not be given facilities that are not available to other devotees in Sabarimala. The High Court's order is in a suo motu case. Devotees have access to the Sannidhanam only through a virtual queue. The court said that Sunil Swamy should also be allowed to enter in this way.

The court found that room 401 of the Sahyadri Pilgrim Center, the donor house in Sabarimala, has been used only by Sunil Swamy for ten years. Sunil Swamy participates in all daily pujas in Sabarimala. He is present in front of the shrine all this time. Other devotees do not get any of these considerations.

In donor rooms, it is allowed to stay in that room for five days free of charge in a season and to stay in that room for ten days on rent. But it cannot be occupied for many years. The court has assessed that this is what Sunil Swamy has violated.

Sunil Swamy's involvement in Sabarimala had caused controversy years ago. The court had been examining these for months. The High Court Division Bench's order came after seeking reports from various departments and examining them.

Sunil Swamy is a person involved in controversies related to the bar bribery case. Years ago, a vigilance report had said that he was influencing Devaswom Board officials by paying them money for personal interests and violating customs.