SC to take up Sabarimala plea today, 4 women seek hearing
NEW DELHI: Four women, including Bindu and Kanakadurga who entered Sabarimala temple on January 2, have approached the Supreme Court seeking that they be heard on Wednesday when a constitution bench takes up review petitions against the September 2018 verdict allowing women of child-bearing age to enter the hilltop shrine.
All four women are from Kerala and have filed applications seeking to intervene as parties supporting the historic verdict.
Bindu, 44, who teaches law at the Kannur University School of Legal Studies, has said in the petition that she has an intense desire to pay her respects to Lord Ayyappa. Kanakadurga, 42, has listed in detail the discrimination she faces at home during her menstrual period, such as being confined to an isolated room and being barred from drawing water from the well.
Earlier, the top court had given the duo police protection after they claimed to be under severe threat from groups opposed to the entry of women between 10 and 50 years of age to Sabarimala. In their fresh petition, Bindu and Kanakadurga have said that they first tried to enter the temple on December 24 but were blocked by protesters. Then, on January 2, they entered with help from the police. Opposing the review petitions, they said, “The judgment of this Court upheld the dignity, liberty and equality of women of all ages and sent a strong message to the society against menstrual taboo... It is in the interest of justice that the Proposed Intervenors are heard.”
The two other petitioners are Reshma Nishant, 33, and Shanila Satheesh, 29, who too tried to enter the temple but had to back off because of violent protests. They have also listed the taboos they face during menstruation and expressed their desire to offer prayers to Lord Ayyappa, traditionally considered to be a celibate deity.
In their petition, they said, “There are thousands of women waiting for darshan at Sabarimala and are awaiting the final outcome of the review petitions, when this court would be pleased to hear and finally decide.”
ALL FOUR WOMEN ARE FROM KERALA AND HAVE FILED APPLICATIONS SEEKING TO INTERVENE AS PARTIES SUPPORTING THE HISTORIC VERDICT OF THE SUPREME COURT