Apex court hearing on Sabarimala today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Supreme Court on Tuesday is expected to hear petitioners who have challenged its order allowing women of all ages to pray at Sabarimala temple in Kerala, where traditionalists have launched a strong protest in support of a centuries-old tradition banning the entry of female devotees between the ages of 10 and 50.

Four days before the shrine opens for a three-month annual pilgrimage, the court will take up over 45 petitions and applications arguing that faith cannot be j udged by scientific or rational reasoning. Protesters claim women of menstruating ages are not allowed to enter the temple because the presiding deity, Lord Ayyappa, is considered celibate.

Both the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has intensified its Sabarimala campaign, and the Congress have criticised the state government’s handling of the situation and supported protesters. “The government has an open mind. We will call an allparty meet to discuss the Sabarimala issue. We will decide the date and other details after the top court decision on review pleas,” temple affairs minister Kadakampally Surendran said on Monday. NEWDELHI: India’s telecom regulator is considering whether communications services such as Whatsapp, Google Duo and Skype should be subject to regulatory and licencing norms that are similar to the ones applicable on telecom operators.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Monday invited comments on regulating so-called over-the-top service providers, which have so far been unregulated. This is the second time that the regulator has sought views on regulating these communication apps.