Constitution bench to resolve ‘Sabarimala Women Entry’ issue

The huge task of finding a suitable answer to the question ‘whether the state governments’ statutory boards have any legal right to impose ban on women from entering the temples, governed by the respective boards, on moral grounds’, has been handed over to the five-member constitution bench by the supreme court, while hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the age-old practise in the Sabarimala Temple of banning the women aged between ten to fifty from entering the temple and taking part in the sacred pilgrimage.

The Rule 3 (b) of the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) prohibits the entry of women at such time during which they are not by custom and usage allowed to enter a place of public worship.  

The bench will examine whether the aforementioned rule violates the women’s right to equality and religious freedom.

Earlier, in the year 1991, the Kerala High Court ruled in favor of the ban, saying that the ban was not the violation of the Article 15, 25 and 26 of the constitution.

It is true that there are several constitutional questions involved in the case. Now, it is up to the bench to decide the future of the age-old question.

Vignesh. S. G

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