Girl`s visit to Sabarimala: Five officials found guilty

Thiruvananthapuram: A departmental probe report has found five officials guilty of allowing the 11-year-old daughter of Sabarimala temple Chief Priest to visit the shrine, where entry of women in the age group of 10-50 is barred.

The Sabarimala Special Commissioner, in his report submitted to the High Court, stated that the girl had reached Sannidhanam and offered prayers on April 17, violating temple traditions. The report has recommended action against three state police and two officials of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on charges of dereliction of duty. The officials included the Personal Security Officer of the Chief Priest, two women police officers, two contract staff of TDB posted at the entry to the trekking path to check women in the banned age group. The report was based on a probe by the Vigilance Wing of the TDB, official sources said. The visit of Chief Priest`s daughter to the temple in violation of tradition had sparked a row following which a probe was ordered by the TDB.