The Kerala government on Monday told the Supreme Court that the Sabarimala temple's sanctum sanctorum "should" be thrown open to women of all ages to enter and worship.
The State's stand was vehemently opposed by the Travancore Devaswom Board, which said the government cannot change its stand according to its convenience.
In November 2007, then LDF government, led by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, filed an affidavit favouring the entry of women into the temple. The successive UDF government by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, however, supported the restriction on entry of women devotees.
The LDF, after coming back to power, filed an additional affidavit supporting the stand of the UDF government.
On Monday, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government said it has changed its position and that it would stand by the stand undertaken in the November 2007 original affidavit.
The Board appealed to a three judge bench, led by Justice Dipak Misra, to refer the case to a Constitution Bench.
The deity's mythical foster father, the Raja of Panthala, also opposed the State's latest position, saying the public faith in the customs and legend of the temple is "deep-rooted".
The Supreme Court on February 12, questioned the practice of banning women from the temple, and wondered if man-made customs can prescribe such prohibition when “the God does not discriminate between men and women”.
The Bench scheduled the case for hearing on February 20.
Souce:The Hindu
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