Thiruvananthapuram: A formal recommendation has been submitted to the High Court of Kerala urging a system overhaul for the Sabarimala virtual queue portal to ensure a single individual cannot hold multiple active bookings across different dates.

In a report submitted to the High Court, Sabarimala Special Commissioner R Jayakrishnan requested software modifications after discovering that several pilgrims were securing multiple active slots for consecutive dates by using different identification cards.

Currently, pilgrims can book virtual queue passes using standard photo ID proofs such as national identity cards or voter identification, while pilgrims aged between 5 and 18 are permitted to use school or college ID cards. However, the existing software framework lacks a check to prevent a user from booking a slot using one ID card and subsequently securing another slot for the following day using a secondary document.

The systemic flaw came to light during the Onam festival opening when authorities identified an individual who had successfully booked virtual queue slots across three consecutive days – August 24, 25 and 26 – by cycling through different identification documents.

The proposed update aims to block multiple active bookings linked to a single individual, ensuring equitable access for all devotees.