Breaking! Women can enter Sabarimala temple

In a big verdict that has disappointed the orthodox sections, the Supreme Court has on Friday said that women of all ages can enter the famous Sabarimala temple in Kerala. The Lord Ayyappa temple doesn’t allow women of menstruating age to enter its premises. This tradition now has been declared unconstitutional.

“The practice of barring women in age group of 10-50 to go inside the temple is violative of constitutional principles,” Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra has said in the verdict. “Right to worship is given to all devotees and there can be no discrimination on the basis of gender,” he added.

But a judge differed with the majority judgement.  “Present judgement won’t be limited to Sabarimala, it will have wide ramifications. Issues of deep religious sentiments shouldn’t be ordinarily interfered in to,” Justice Indu Malhotra noted, voicing dissent.  “Religious practices can’t solely be tested on the basis of the right to equality. It’s up to the worshippers, not the court to decide what’s religion’s essential practice,” he added.  

A review petition after getting support from other religious heads will be filed by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).