In SC, temple board to defend women's entry ban in Sabarimala temple

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Travancore Devaswom Board volition record an affidavit earlier the Supreme Court to sphere existing traditions astatine Sabarimala temple, opposing the 2018 ruling that opened the elevation shrine to women of each ages, committee president K Jayakumar said Monday.The determination was taken astatine a committee gathering arsenic the tribunal considers petitions connected the introduction of women of menstruating property into the temple successful Kerala's Pathanamthitta district. On Sept 28, 2018, a five-judge Constitution seat struck down by a 4-1 bulk the regularisation astatine Sabarimala - the centuries-old signifier that bars women aged 10 to 50. The apical tribunal held that the prohibition violated equality and state of worship. It said biologic factors cannot warrant denial of entree to a spot of worship.

"We volition contention the Supreme Court decision. The committee has nary quality of sentiment connected this," Jayakumar said. "TDB is constituted nether rules that mandate the extortion of the temple and its traditions."TDB is an autonomous statutory assemblage headquartered successful Thiruvananthapuram that manages much than 1,000 temples successful Kerala. Formed successful 1950, it is the largest of the state's 5 devaswom boards and oversees iconic shrines, astir notably Sabarimala.

Addressing the board's counsel having opposed a reappraisal of the 2018 verdict successful 2020, Jayakumar said that reflected a ineligible presumption astatine the clip and not a displacement successful policy. "The devaswom has lone 1 basal - that traditions should beryllium protected and followed," helium said, adding that the committee tin spot its presumption erstwhile the tribunal takes up the review. The tribunal has asked each parties to pass their basal by March 15. The gathering was convened successful that context, and the committee resolved to follow a presumption "aligned with the sentiments of devotees", Jayakumar said. Asked whether Kerala govt would reflector the board's stand, helium said the question should beryllium enactment to govt.