Kochi, September 29: The Shiv Sena unit of Kerala has called for a statewide 12 hours strike on October 1 against Supreme Court's verdict to allow women of all ages to enter Sabarimala Temple. The top court on Friday paved the way for the entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala. In its 4:1 verdict, the five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said that banning the entry of women into the shrine is gender discrimination and the practice violates the rights of Hindu women.

However, the temple Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru said though the verdict was "disappointing", but they accepted it. "I respect the court verdict. It is very difficult to arrange special facilities for women in the present context.. The Board has to make arrangements...," he added. Highlights of Sabarimala Verdict.

Meanwhile, Kerala Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran welcomed 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. Sabarimala Verdict: Why These 5 Arguments in Favour of Restricting Women’s Entry Into the Ayyappa Temple Are Baseless.

On Friday, while Justices R F Nariman and D Y Chandrachud concurred with the CJI and Justice A M Khanwilkar, Justice Indu Malhotra gave a dissenting verdict. The CJI said religion is a way of life basically to link life with divinity while Indu, the lone woman judge in the bench, passed a dissenting judgement and said that issues which have deep religious connotation should not be tinkered with to maintain secular atmosphere in the country.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 29, 2018 02:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).