Sabarimala: Review plea is filed in SC

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking review of the Constitution bench judgement which lifted the ban on entry of women into the Sabarimala Temple.

The plea, filed by Shylaja Vijayan, president of National Ayyappa Devotees Association, said the September 28 judgment, which had allowed entry of women of all ages in the hill-top shrine, is "absolutely untenable and irrational, if not perverse".

A five-judge constitution bench headed by then Chief Justice Dipak Misra, had in its 4:1 verdict, said that banning the entry of women into the shrine is gender discrimination and that the practice violates rights of Hindu women.

Meanwhile, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said his government was obliged to implement the ruling. He also accused the RSS of creating a law and order situation in the state by taking advantage of the top court's verdict. The Chief Minister further said that the Kerala government is bound to implement the apex court verdict. Accusing the BJP of showing double standards, he said it was time for political parties to support progressive steps. He said that in older days, menstruating women used to be shifted away from their homes and were not allowed to enter kitchens as they were considered to be impure. “But over the years, these things have changed. In different sections of society, there has always been revolt against such wrong traditions,” he added. After the pronouncement of the verdict, the RSS issued a statement saying the Kerala government, by implementing the Supreme Court verdict, was not paying heed to the sentiments of the devotees.