New Delhi, October 22:  The Supreme Court said it will decide on Tuesday as to when the hearing the fresh petitions (writ and review) in regard to the entry of women in age group 10-50 in Kerala's Sabarimala temple can be taken up. There are 19 review petitions pending before the Supreme Court. Earlier this month, the Lord Ayappa Devotees Association sought urgent hearing of the review petitions saying the temple would be opened on October 16. They asked the top court to hear the review pleas before it goes in for holidays from October 12. Sabarimala Temple Gates to Shut Today, Last Attempt for Women to Enter Sanctum Sanctorum. 

According to a report by PTI, Advocate Nedumpara said that for the implementation of the order of the top court, Kerala is making all arrangements to allow women of all age groups to enter the temple. The Ayyappa devotees, in their plea, said that apex court’s judgement was against the “fundamental right of belief and faith”.

Apart from the Devotees Association, another petition seeking review of the Apex Court's verdict has also been filed by the Nair Service Society (NSS). The petition filed by NSS, an organisation for the uplift and welfare of the Nair community, said as the deity is a ‘Naistika Brahmachari, females before the age of 10 and after the age of 50 years are eligible to worship him and there is no practice of excluding worship by females. Sabarimala Row: 'Feeling Proud,' Says Kavitha Jakkal, Hyderabad Journalist Who Almost Entered Sanctum Sanctorum.

On September 28, the Constitution bench of the Supreme Court allowed entry of women, aged between 10 and 50, to enter into the temple. The top Court’s judgement sent shock waves among millions of Ayyappa devotees. The devotees contended that they were not a party in the case in which the apex court had passed the judgement and thus should now be heard.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 22, 2018 11:16 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).