Sabarimala Verdict: National Ayyappa Devotee Association Files Review Plea Against SC Order Allowing Entry Of Women Of All Ages

Thiruvananthapuram, October 8: A review petition has been filed in the Supreme Court on Monday by National Ayyappa Devotee association challenging the earlier verdict of the court which allowed the entry of women inside the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala. Yesterday, the chief priest of the temple decided to skip a conciliation meeting called by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to discuss the September 28 Supreme Court ruling.

Meanwhile, Vijayan today said that the state would follow the court verdict. "It is the responsibility of the government to implement the verdict of SC. It is not the policy of the government to fight with believers. Their interest will be protected. Government is ready for discussion," he said addressing the media today.

Protests erupted in the state as the Kerala government and the Travancore Devasom Board (TDB), who is the custodian of the temple, decided not to file a review petition against the court’s verdict. Yesterday, Ayyappa Nama Japa Yatra’ was held at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar by Lord Ayyappa devotees who were protesting against the court’s verdict. Similarly, protests were also held in Chennai against the ruling.

On September 28, The Supreme Court struck down the rule prohibiting entry of women between the age of 10-50 years by 4:1 majority. The five-judge bench comprising of the then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, Justices AM Khanwilkar, Nariman, Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra. However, Justice Malhotra was against the verdict. Earlier, women of menstruating age, that is between 10 and 50 years, were barred from entering the Sabarimala Temple by its officials, who argued that the temple deity, Lord Ayyappa, had taken a vow of celibacy.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 08, 2018 12:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).