Kerala CM said that the government has to abide by the SC verdict and make necessary arrangements for women devotees visiting the shrine.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government Wednesday made it clear it has no plan to file a review petition against the Supreme Court order allowing women of all age groups into the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala.
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the hill shrine, has also not taken any decision to go for any review in this regard, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters here.
The TDB president had stated that the Board may examine the possibility of filing the review petition, while the opposition Congress and BJP had asked the government to do the same holding that traditions and belief of the temple have to be protected.
Terming the recent developments connected with Sabarimala a “serious” matter, Vijayan said as a government, it has to abide by directives of the top court and make necessary arrangements for women devotees visiting the shrine.
“It is the responsibility of the government to implement the court order without any compromise. We will ensure to make necessary arrangements for the women devotees in the upcoming season itself,” he said.
He also took exception to TDB president A Padmakumar’s recent remark that they were not expecting large number of women devotees at the shrine in the wake of the court order.
The Sabarimala Temple had restricted the entry of women belonging to the age group between 10-50 due as part of its age-old tradition.
On October 28, a five-judge constitution bench headed by the then Chief Justice Dipak Misra lifted the ban on entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine.
With regard to the protest launched by various outfits against implementing the court verdict, the Chief Minister said no one has the right to prevent women devotees if they want to go to the shrine and offer worship.
“When the Supreme Court has taken a stand after considering all aspects on the matter, people have to accept the law of the land. The government is for implementing it,” he added.
Hundreds of Ayyappa devotees, including women, Tuesday had blocked state and national highways in various parts of Kerala protesting the Supreme Court verdict.
BJP state President S Sreedharan Pillai had said the party plans to launch state-wide agitations to protect the interest of Sabarimala devotees.
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala had urged the TDB to file a review petition and also asked the government to arrive at a consensus on the issue. -PTI
It is a mockery of law and justice in the ancronic social system to say women had no right to worship their god. this language is applicable to each and everyone in every religion. We saw a video that the kings family which was sending gold ornament in their custody to temple will not send it this time. First of all they shall be taxed for holding it if it is their own. If they are custodians, they shall return back to TD Board. It is not trust worthy to allow these old ornaments to be in the custody of modern men. Secondly, it was told that no body will come as Melsanthi, the chief priest of AYYAPPA TEMPLE. These persons are government paid employees. for dereliction of their duties action shall be taken. Or an IAS officer shall be posted . LADIES who are willing to pray, shall be permitted for half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening in queue. This facility will not be available to them in JANUARY where millions throng the mount. They shall avoid this period as god do not give special favour. After one or two years, they can think of coming to this Makara Vilakku also. LET US NOT CREATE A CHARACTER FOR GOD, LET GOT CREATE A GOOD CHARACTER FOR US.