Click to play videoNew Delhi: The petition challenging the ban on entry of women between the age of 10 and 50 years into Lord Ayyappa's shrine in Sabarimala in Kerala has been referred to a larger bench by the Supreme Court .
A bench of Justice SB Sinha and Justice VS Sirpurkar referred the matter to a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan, saying that the contentions raised in the petition involved important legal and socio-religious issues. The order was passed while hearing a petition filed by the Indian Young Lawyers Association.
The association wants the ban lifted saying it is a violation of women's fundamental rights.
They also challenged the validity of the provisions of the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Rules, 1965, which legalises the ban.
Terming the practice as a “socio-religious malady”, they expressed “surprise” that the practice was being carried out by a temple board that received Rs 800,000 per annum from the state.
The Kerala government has also come out in support of the petitioner. The Travancore Devasom Board, the regulating board of the temple is opposing the petition saying that 15 years ago the Kerala High Court had passed the order upholding the ban.
(With inputs from IANS)
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