Thirrivanatpuram, Nov 20: A 31-year-old woman was detained and questioned after she tried to enter the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Kerala’s Sabarimala on Sunday. Since the entry of women in the 10-50 age group is restricted inside the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala as per the age-old practice, the lady who tried to enter the temple was detained. The purpose of woman’s attempt to enter the Lord Ayyappa Temple is not known yet.
In October, the Supreme Court referred to a Constitution Bench the question whether a ban on the entry of women in the age group 10-50 years in Kerala’s Sabarimala temple on grounds of biological factors was discriminatory and violative of the Constitution’s Articles 14, 15 and 17.
The top court was hearing on a PIL by Indian Young Lawyers Association, which had sought direction to the Kerala government, the Travancore Devaswom Board, Chief Thanthri (priest) of Sabarimala Temple and the District Magistrate of Pathanamthitta to ensure entry of female devotees between the age group of 10 to 50 at the temple to Lord Ayappa which has been denied to them on the basis of certain customs and usage.
The temple, situated in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, restricts women aged between 10 and 50 from visiting the premises. In January 2016, the court had questioned the ban, saying this could not be done under the Constitution. The Kerala High Court had upheld the custom in 1991.
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