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devotees are the ones trying to enter
THE CASE UPDATE the temple and this is clearly evident
from the protest we saw,” he adds.
Though women don’t visit the
1991: A petition by devotee Mahendran pushed the Kerala High Court to temple physically, but they have a
put a ban on women from entering Sabarimala between the menstruating bigger role to play in the rituals of the
years of 10-50 age. Mahendran busted that the temple management trans- Mandala-Makaravilakku festival. “They
gressed the rules by allowing VVIP women into the shrine. also have a significant role, when the
men in their family undergoes the
2006: Indian Young Lawyers Association challenged the decision of Vretham and visits Sabarimala, the
Kerala High Court in the top court by arguing that the ban violated the ladies pray in their homes, which
right to equality under Article 14 and freedom of religion under Article 25. actually is the tradition. But, this was
The Supreme Court issued notice to the parties. brought up as a gender inequality
issue, which is wrong. Secondly, Swami
2008: The matter was referred to a three-judge Bench in Supreme Court. Ayyappa is a Naishitka Brahmachari
(celibate). But some people had raise
2018: In a 4:1 majority, the Supreme Court on September 28 ruled out in the topic of ‘impurity of women’ as the
favour of the women devotees stating that disallowing entry to Sabari- reason for the restrictions on the en-
mala on the grounds of gender and biological differences tantamount to try of women, which is just to create
violation of the constitution. confusion or dilute the case,” Shivs-
In October, the National Ayyappa Devotees (Women’s) Association hankar says.
filed a review petition against the judgement of the Supreme Court. Other When this reporter asked him
parties like Nair Service Society and All Kerala Brahmins Association also whether he would still continue to
filed review petitions individually. visit Sabarimala if women are allowed,
Shivshankar says, “I am strong believer
2019: On November 14, The five-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of Swami Ayyappa and has been visit-
Ranjan Gogoi referred the issue to a larger bench in a 3:2 verdict to ing the temple for ages. If a woman who
re-examine religious issues. does not have faith (in Ayyappa) enters,
it will not stop me or other devotees

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