Supreme Court asks Kerala government to draft exclusive law for Sabarimala temple

Supreme Court asks Kerala government to draft exclusive law for Sabarimala temple

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Kerala government to come out with an special legislation regarding the administration of the historic Sabarimala temple.

A bench headed by Justice N V Ramana asked the Kerala govt to place before it by third week of January next year the legislation, also covering the aspects of welfare of devotees visiting there.

The counsel appearing for the state said it has formulated amendments to the law that would deal with the temples and their administrations which are presently being governed by the Travancore Devaswom Board.

The draft law also proposes one-third quota for women in the Temple Advisory Committees, the SC asked, How can there be women in the panel when a 7-judge Bench is yet to examine the question of essential spiritual practices.

This aspect triggered a argue in the courtroom with regard to September 2018 apex court verdict allowing entry of girls and women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple.

The state government said that for the time being, it proposes to give representation in the temple advisory committee to only those women who are above fifty years of age.

One of the judges of the bench referred to the September 28, 2018 verdict and observed that the direction allowing women and girls of all ages holds the field.

The top court was hearing a plea filed in 2011 which has raised the issue of administration of Sabarimala temple.

In August  27, the state government had told the Supreme court that it was considering enacting a "separate legislation" with regard to administration of the Sabarimala temple.

A 5-judge Constitution bench, headed by the then Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, in a 3:2 majority verdict, had referred to a larger 7-judge bench the pleas seeking review of its historic 2018 judgement allowing women and girls of all ages to enter Sabarimala temple, along with other contentious issues of alleged discrimination against Muslim and Parsi women.

The Supreme court had not stayed the 2018 verdict that had allowed entry of girls and women of all ages into Sabarimala temple.

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