Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights has not imposed any specific order applicable to Kuthiyottam at Attukal but it had banned Chural Muriyal, a similar savage ritual at Chettikulangara temple. The Commission chairperson, Ms Sobha Koshy, was indisposed and not available for response to the demand for ending Kuthiyottam. But Commission sources said they would act either suo motu or on the basis of a complaint. “Subjecting children to this practice will be looked into”, the commission source said.
On February 20, the High Court had ruled against Chooral Muriyal, which involves piercing the flanks of children and clarified that the defiance of its order to suspend the practice would be a non-bailable offence. The temple undertook to suspend the ritual this year. On February 12, while disposing of a petition filed by Sreedevi Vilasam Hindumatha Convention, the court asked authorities to book those who perform the ritual. A few parents challenged the ban saying they were dedicating their children at will and caused no harm. But the court examined videos submitted by the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and upheld its 2016 ban. In spite of this, Kuthiyottam was organized. Alappuzha police chief S. Surendran has issued notices and is waited “for the court’s order to act,” he said
