Thiruvananthapuram, February 16: The Kerala government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has adopted a cautious approach ahead of the Supreme Court’s upcoming hearing on the review of the decision regarding the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple. The government has clarified that it will finalize its stance only after thorough discussions on all aspects of the issue.
State Law Minister P. Rajeev emphasized that the matter cannot be reduced to a simple “yes or no.” He described it as a complex constitutional question, stating that the government will clarify its position after careful consideration.
Minister Rajeev reminded that the government’s previous stance was in line with the Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling, which allowed women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala temple. He reiterated that faith and social reform should go hand in hand, a perspective reflected in the government’s affidavit.
The Supreme Court’s nine-judge constitutional bench is set to begin hearings on the Sabarimala review case on April 7. The bench, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, has scheduled a detailed program for hearing the review petitions filed against the 2018 decision. The court has directed all parties to submit their written arguments by March 14 and aims to conclude the debates by April 22.
In the landmark September 2018 ruling, the Supreme Court permitted the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa.
Ahead of the hearings, influential community organizations in Kerala have intensified pressure on the state government to change its stance. The Nair Service Society (NSS) has demanded that the government oppose the entry of women of all ages.
NSS General Secretary G. Sukumaran Nair stated that the state government and the Devaswom Board should amend their previously supportive position. He stressed that the issue should not be linked to electoral politics and called for the preservation of the current traditional practices at Sabarimala, along with a demand to withdraw cases related to the Namajap movement.
Similarly, the Sri Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) has also appealed to the government to change its stance. SNDP General Secretary Vellapally Natesan urged the government to “make necessary reforms” while opposing women’s entry, asserting that the traditions of Sabarimala should remain unchanged and that the government should make decisions after hearing all parties involved.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.