(Image source from: SC questions ban on women to enter Sabarimala temple})
Since years, women of menstrual age group are banned from entering the Sabarimala temple. This age old ban was questioned by the Supreme Court on Monday. The bench said that the temple was a public temple and everyone needs the “the right to access”. It said that at the most, religious restrictions can be there but not a general restriction.
Justice Dipak Misra led bench said, “It is our view that the temple cannot prohibit entry except on the basis of religion. Unless you have a constitutional right, you cannot prohibit entry.” The Kerala government as well as the temple administration was asked by the SC to justify the ban on the principles of constitutionality.
The bench questioned the government if it was sure that not a single woman stepped into the temple premises in previous 1,500 years, while hearing a PIL filed by the Young Lawyers Association. They are seeking entry for girls and women into the temple. As a practice, Sabarimala does not allow entry of girls who attained puberty into its premises. However, women who reached menopause are permitted.
Senior advocate K K Venugopal appeared on behalf of the Kerala government. He said that the women, who have not yet reached menopause, will not be able to “preserve the purity” all through the journey of 41 days to the temple situated on a hilltop.
A detailed hearing is pending in the case on 8 February 2015.
-Sumana
