It said that unless it has the constitutional right to do so, the temple can not ban women.
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The table heard a PIL, submitted from the Small Lawyers Association, seeking access after attaining to enter the areas for several ladies and women within the Sabarimala temple which, like an exercise, doesn’t permit women.
The Supreme Court has stirred a hornet’s nest. “So allowing women to worship in the shrine is a sin”, said the temple’s chief priest Thazhamon Madom Kandararu Rajeevaru.
The case was referred to the three-Judge bench by a two-Judge bench comprising justices SB Sinha and VS Sirpurkar on 8 March 2008, in view of the serious Constitutional questions involved. Temple bars entry of women of menstrual age.
Sabarimala is probably the only temple in the region, which allows non-Hindus also visit the temple, provided they are pilgrims. He said the observation was without understanding the speciality of the rituals of the temple and deity Lord Ayyappa, who is considered to be “perennial celibate” (naishtika brahmachari). SABARIMALA, GURUVAYUR TO BE PART OF PRASAD SCHEME Tourism Ministry is in the process of declaring Sabarimala and Guruvayur temples in Kerala under the PRASAD scheme, meant for developing pilgrimage centres, Union Minister Mahesh Sharma said on Monday.
“Complying with the ongoing practice of each temple by the believers is a must for the healthy survival of religious places”, the thantri said.
In earlier litigations, the Travancore Devaswom Board, which maintains the temple, had said women in the restricted age were not allowed to enter into the temple, while the stance of the State government depends on which party rules the State. Senior Advocate KK Venugopal appeared for the Devaswom Board.
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The petition had also sought revision of the Rule contending that the ban was violative of Articles 14 (equality before law), 25 and 26 (freedom of religion) of the Constitution.
