Temple must allow entry of all women
The Indian Supreme Court yesterday allowed the entry of women of all ages into a famous Hindu temple at Sabarimala in southern state of Kerala where the entry of women of menstrual age was restricted as its presiding deity Lord Ayyappa is considered to be a celibate.
The five-judge constitution bench of the court, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in its 4:1 verdict, said banning the entry of women into the shrine is gender discrimination and the practice violates rights of Hindu women.
While Justices R F Nariman and D Y Chandrachud concurred with the CJI and Justice A M Khanwilkar, Justice Indu Malhotra gave a dissenting verdict.
Justice Malhotra, the lone woman judge in the bench, said issues having deep religious connotation should not be tinkered with to maintain secular atmosphere in the country.
She was of the view that it is not for courts to determine which religious practices are to be struck down except in issues of social evil like 'Sati' (self-immolation by Hindu women on the pyre of their husband).
Justice Malhotra said the right to equality conflicts with the right to worship of devotees of Lord Ayyappa.
She said the issue in this case not limited to Sabarimala only. It will have far reaching implications for other places of worships.
The court passed four sets of separate judgements on a clutch of pleas challenging ban on the entry of women of menstrual age in Sabrimala temple saying law and society are tasked with the task to act as levellers.
Comments