SC refuses to order protection for women at Sabarimala Shrine

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to pass any orders on a plea of two women seeking security to enter the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, with Chief Justice SA Bobde saying that it was an “emotive” issue and that the court did not want it to become “explosive”.

A three-judge bench headed by the CJI though clarified that it wouldn’t stand in the way of the women praying in the temple if they were welcomed in a friendly manner.

The bench conceded that there was no stay on the entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple, but said it did not “want any violence at this stage” since the issue had been referred to a seven-judge bench.