Just hours after High Court's rebuke, Sunil Swamy leaves Sabarimala ending 40-year-old custom

SANNIDHANAM: Just hours after the high court criticism, businessman Sunil Swamy descended the holy hills of Sabarimala on Saturday. The High Court yesterday in an order asked officials to refrain from giving special consideration to controversial businessman Sunil Swamy in Sabarimala.

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 always seen in front of the shrine. Other devotees do not get any of these considerations.

Just after the court order, Sunil Swamy left Sannidhanam and reached Pamba in a dolly. For the last 40 years, from the day of opening to closing, Swamy’s presence was ubiquitous all around the shrine.

The court asked Swamy to visit the shrine through a virtual queue, like every other pilgrim. In donor rooms, a five-day stay comes free of charge in a season while rent is imposed for the next ten days. But the rooms cannot be occupied for many years. The court assessed that Sunil Swamy had violated this norm.

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 was 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.