Kochi, October 3: Women devotees willing to visit the Sabarimala temple in Kerala will now be given proper facilities and protection by the state government. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said that women who want to go to Sabarimala cannot be stopped and state government will not file a review petition on Sabarimala verdict. The Chief Minister said the state government would ensure that women are given all the facilities when they visit the temple. Sabarimala Verdict by Supreme Court Highlights: 'Women are Worshipped like Goddesses, Temple Doors Cannot be Closed For Them'.
Pinarayi Vijayan further said that women police personnel from Kerala and neighbouring states will be deputed to ensure law and order. The move comes after the Supreme Court's verdict allowing entry of women of all ages in the Sabarimala temple and said the "historic" judgement was the culmination of a long-drawn legal battle. However, Temple Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru said though the verdict was "disappointing", but they accepted it. Sabarimala Temple Verdict: Doors For Ayyappa Darshan Open For Women of All Age Groups, Rules Supreme Court Saying Biological Reasons Can't be Given Legitimacy.
A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in its 4:1 verdict, said that banning the entry of women into the shrine is gender discrimination and the practice violates rights of Hindu women. It was for the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to implement the verdict and to ensure protection to the women visiting the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 03, 2018 12:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).