Sabarimala All-Women Entry Continues:Apex Court

Whether the Supreme Court should review its decision to end the ban on women between 10 and 50 entering Kerala’s sabarimala temple will be taken up by a larger seven-judge bench. Reading out a majority verdict on Thursday, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said the question of whether women of all ages should be allowed into Sabarimala is part of a larger debate that includes issues like allowing Muslim and Parsi women to enter religious practice and female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra community.

“Fresh opportunities to be given to all parties,” the Chief Justice said.

Restrictions on women in religious places was not limited to Sabarimala and was prevalent in other religions too, the court said.

More than 60 petitions were filed after the Supreme Court verdict in September last year sparked violent protests in Kerala.

“The endevour of the petitioners was to revive a debate on religion and faith,” said Chief Justice Gogoi.

While the court did not put on hold its earlier order, opposition parties said a “stay” is implied and the Kerala government must enforce it. “The fact that this issue has been referred to higher bench means that the question is not decided.

“Sabarimala is an important temple. We expect the Kerala government to maintain law and order,” Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said during a press conference.