Thiruvananthapuram :- In a move aimed at preserving the sanctity of one of India’s most revered pilgrimage sites, the Kerala High Court has barred media outlets from using drone cameras at the Sabarimala temple. The court cited privacy concerns and the need to maintain the spiritual atmosphere of the shrine, especially during the crowded pilgrimage season.
Going a step further, the court also directed the Travancore Devaswom Board — the body that manages the temple — to decide whether videography should be allowed near the sanctum sanctorum, the holiest area of the temple. The final call on allowing cameras in such sacred zones has now been placed in the hands of the Board.
The verdict comes at a time when thousands of pilgrims are visiting the hill shrine, and debates around media intrusion during religious observances are intensifying. The decision is seen as a balancing act between transparency and religious reverence.
