Sabarimala

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice SK Kaul said this while considered submissions by a lawyer that his petition be listed for urgent hearing.

“We know that there are 19 review petitions pending. By tomorrow (Tuesday) we will decide,” the bench said.

Nearly a dozen women have been turned back by angry protesters while attempting to visit the shrine of Lord Ayyappa, the presiding deity of Sabarimala temple considered “naishtika brahmachari” (eternally celi- bate), since its door opened for a five-day pooja on October 17.

No pooja was performed on the first day of the opening of the temple. The doors to the shrine will close at 10 pm Monday.

Despite clamping of section 144 CrPC at Sabarimala Sannidhanam, Pamba, Nilackal and Elavumkal, hundreds of Ayyappa devotees have prevented women of the “barred” age group from visiting the shrine.

Inspector General of Police S Sreejith, deputed to ensure security of women devotees, offered prayers at the temple Monday morning.

Visuals of the officer offering prayers with tearful eyes before the deity were telecast by the local media.Sreejith had faced the ire of the devotees for taking activist Rehana Fathima to the temple under police security.

However, police could not facilitate her entry into the main temple because of strong protests by Ayyappa devotees.

Six women were prevented from entering the Sabarimala temple Sunday alone.