Decent Women Will Not Enter Sabarimala Even if SC Allows: Temple Board Chief

October 14, 2017 11:27
Decent Women Will Not Enter Sabarimala Even if SC Allows: Temple Board Chief

(Image source from: News18.com)

Decent Women Will Not Enter Sabarimala Even if SC Allows: Temple Board Chief:- A controversy has been stirred by Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president Prayar Gopalakrishnan. He stated that even if the Supreme Court lifted the ban, no “self-respecting” woman born in a “decent” family would enter the Sabarimala Temple.

Gopalakrishnan reacting to the Supreme Court’s decision, to refer the matter to its Constitution bench, stuck to his stand that women of menstruating age should not be allowed to enter the temple.  

“We will not allow Sabarimala to become Thailand,” he said on Friday, hinting that if women are allowed to enter, Sabarimala will become a tourist centre. “Even if the court allows entry of women of menstruating age into Sabarimala, no self-respecting woman will go up to the hill shrine,” he added.

The TDB manages the hill shrine in Kerala’s Western ghats of Pathanamthitta district. The entry of women between 10 and 50 years of age has been restricted by the TDB.

It was a matter of security as well as tradition, said Gopalakrishnan. “What will be the situation if women between the ages of 10 to 50 have to climb uphill under challenging weather conditions without any safety?” he asked. “If women are allowed to enter the shrine, women police will also have to be deputed for security. This will lead to a lot of issues, including immoral activities,” he added.

Meanwhile, the remarks of the TDB chief were flayed by Kerala Minister for Devaswom and Tourism Kadakampally Surendran. They said that with such a comparison, Gopalakrishnan had insulted the women community and Ayyappa devotees. Surendran said that the TDB Chied must seek an apology for his remark. The CPI(M)-led LDF government in the state was of the view that there should not be gender- based discrimination for entry in temples. “We will abide by the court ruling,” said Mr. Surendran.

Around five “significant” questions to be dealt with by the constitution bench were framed by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra on Friday. This included whether the practice of banning entry of women in the temple amounted to discrimination and violated their fundamental rights under the constitution.

The apex court, was earlier told by the management of the Sabarimala temple that the ban on entry of women aged between 10 and 50 years is because they cannot maintain “purity” on account of menstruation.

SUPRAJA

If you enjoyed this Post, Sign up for Newsletter

(And get daily dose of political, entertainment news straight to your inbox)

Rate This Article
(0 votes)