Dolly Workers Cannot Protest During Sabarimala Festival Season, Would Adversely Affect Rights Of Pilgrims: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court stated that dolly workers cannot be permitted to stage protest or strike ahead of the 2024 Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season at Sabarimala. The Dolly workers could not be allowed to use such kinds of pressure tactics during Mandala-Makaravilakku festival seasons or Maasapoojas, since any protest or strike from their side will adversely affect crowd management at Sabarimala, which is a Special Security Zone, and also the safety of the pilgrims, which includes children of tender age, senior citizen, persons with disabilities, etc. Any such protest or strike from the side of Dolly workers will also adversely affect the right of the worshippers of Lord Ayyappa, who reach Sabarimala, to exercise their right to worship in an accustomed manner and subject to the practice and tradition in Sabarimala.” The Court further observed that a large number of persons including daily wage workers are employed at Sabarimala to ensure the safety of pilgrims, and in such situations, dolly workers cannot be permitted to protest, as it would disrupt effective crowd management. “When such personnel/employees work as a team to ensure that the pilgrims have a safe, secure and hassle-free pilgrimage during Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season of 1200ME, the Dolly workers at Sabarimala cannot be permitted to stage any protest at Sabarimala, which is a place of worship.” The Court thus directed the Travancore Devaswom authorities and police officials to take steps to ensure that there is no strike or protest from the side of dolly workers.