Does not share SC observation on entry of women into Sabarimala
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala’s Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government does not share the Supreme Court observation on entry of menstruating women into the famed Sabarimala shrine in the state.
A three-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Mishra had on Monday questioned the practice of prohibiting entry to women of the age group of 10 to 50 in the hill shrine on constitutional grounds, while hearing a 10-year-old petition filed by Indian Young Lawyers’ Association and five women lawyers from New Delhi.
Temple Affairs Minister V S Sivakumar and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday indicated that the government will stand by the side of the temple authorities when the Supreme Court takes up the case for hearing on January 18. Reacting to the court’s observation, Sivakumar said that the custom was related to the faith and added that the government had a duty to protect the sentiments of devotees.
The government will submit an affidavit after consulting all stakeholders, he added. The previous government headed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) had filed an affidavit backing the lawyers’ plea. It had proposed establishment of a commission consisting of religious scholars, social scientists and lawyers to look into the issue.
