Woman moves SC over Sabarimala, accuses state govt, police of contempt

NEWDELHI:BINDU Ammini, one of the two women who entered the Sabarimala temple in Kerala earlier this year, has approached the Supreme Court alleging that Kerala government, its Chief Secretary and various Police officials have committed gross contempt of court by failing to ensure safe passage of women to Sabarimala temple irrespective of their age.

Ammini, in her plea, narrated her own ordeal when she recently attempted to visit Sabarimala again and said she was attacked with a “chemical substance”. Videos of the incident show a man spraying a substance at her eyes.

A Kerala government spokesperson said the government reply will be sent to the court if and when it is asked to file a response.

Ammini planned to visit Sabarimala along with other devotees including Trupti Desai, the activist who campaigned for entry of women to Shani Shingnapur temple. Bindu went to receive Desai at Cochin airport on November 26. The two women booked an Uber for their journey to Sabarimala from the airport.

She alleged that staff of a television channel created a ruckus and when the cab driver arrived, he was forced to cancel the trip.

The women then proceeded to the Police Commissioner’s office seeking protection but this wasn’t forthcoming. While coming out of the Commissioner’s office, Ammini alleges she was attacked with a “chemical substance having burning sensation”. “Police were onlookers; they did not detain the attacker even after she pointed him out,” the application said.

These acts of the government and other police officials violate the SC order of November 13, 2018 which said that there is no stay on its judgment of September 2018 by which it allowed entry of women of all ages into Sabarimala.

“The state Government...are all in gross contempt of the Orders of this Hon’ble Court as they ... intentionally disobeyed the Order dated 13.11.2018 ”.