In u-turn, LDF backs women bar at Sabarimala

New Delhi: The LDF government on Monday adopted the stand of the previous UDF government in the Supreme Court justifying the restriction on the entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50 in the Sabarimala Ayyappan temple and said this restriction has been prevailing from time immemorial. A batch of petitions filed in 2006 by the Indian Young Lawyers Association and others relating to the ban on women in Sabarimala temple was posted before a new combination of judges comprising Justices Dipak Misra, C. Nagappan and Ms. R. Banumathi on Monday.

The earlier combination which included Justices Gopala Gowda and Kurian Joseph had heard detailed arguments in April. Following the change of government in the state, Justice Misra  wanted to know from senior counsel V. Giri, appearing for Kerala, whether there was  any change in the stand. The counsel said as of now there was  no change and added  “we will argue the matter legally.”

In 2007, the then LDF government headed by V.S. Achuthanandan had stated that it was  not fair to prevent a section of women from entering Sabarimala and offer  worship. The LDF government had also questioned the efficacy of the established rituals. In January 2016, the UDF government filed an affidavit changing its stand and said  since the deity is in the form of a Naisthik Brahmachari, it is believed that young women should not offer worship in the temple.