Sabarimala ban on women: Kerala government to file affidavit

KOCHI: The Kerala government will file an affidavit in the apex court on the question of the entry of women in Sabarimala temple after taking into account the customs, traditions and rituals followed in the temple over the years.

While hearing a petition that sought a direction to allow women in the age group of 10 to 50 to enter the Sabarimala, the court observed that the temple cannot ban the entry of women.

The court asked on what basis is the temple not allowing women in its premises? It asked the state government to submit an affidavit on the matter.

Reacting to the development, state Devaswom minister VS Shivakumar said that the policy of the state government will be to safeguard the age-old customs and traditions followed at the Sabarimala temple. He said that the government will consider the belief of the people and the rituals in the temple before filing the affidavit.

The Government will hold discussions with the Devaswom board before filing its affidavit, he added. Meanwhile, the Devaswom board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan said that the Board will join as a party in the case.

The state home minister Ramesh Chennithala said that the government cannot change the rituals and traditions of the Sabarimala temple.