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The Attorney General K. K. Venugopal has withdrawn himself from considering the petitions filed seeking his sanction for initiating contempt action against those who are allegedly instigating disobedience of the SC judgment. Before his appointment as the AG, he had appeared on behalf of the Travancore Devaswom Board in the Sabarimala matter opposing women entry in the temple. He has also appeared for Nair Service Societyin certain matters. NSS has taken an open stand against the SC judgment and has filed a review petition against it. Also, speaking at a recent event, the AG had expressed his opinion against the majority decision and stated that he favoured the dissenting judgment of Justice Indu Malhotra. Thus,it can be assumed that his withdrawal is due to these circumstances.
The matter has further been handed over to the Solicitor General Thushar Mehta.
In the midst of the ongoing protests against entry of women of all age groups into Sabarimala temple, two women from Kerala had approached the AG to seeksanction for initiating contempt proceedings against a few people allegedly violating the Supreme Court’s judgment in Indian Young Lawyers Association v. State of Kerala &Ors.
One of the petitions, filed by one AV Varsha, alleges contempt of court by Mr. Kantararu Rajeevaru, Head Priest of Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, and Mr. P. Ramavarma Raja, Chairman of Trust/Committee that manages the affairs of Pandalam Palace that claims to have historical connection to the Sabarimala Temple and its affairs.
It relies on the media reports to allege that soon after the verdict, Mr. Raja wrote a letter to Mr. Rajeevaru, directing him to shut the temple in case of any breach of rituals. Notably, both the individuals took a stand against entry of women before the Supreme Court as the writing of the letter now, the petition contends, is a clear violation of the Supreme Court judgment.
Another petition was filed by a woman lawyer from Thiruvananthapuram, Geena Kumary against Adv. P.S Sreedharan Pillai, President of the State Committee of BJP; Adv. MuraleedharanUnnithan K.G, leader of BJP in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala; and Mr. Kollam Thulasi, a movie artist.
It is stated that the contemnors have been orchestrating various marches, rallies and social media campaigns wherein calls and speeches are being made by the contemnors to resist implementation of the judgment of the SC. As per the petition, Mr. P.S Sreedharan Pillai have organized a thousand- strong mob at Nilakkal and nearby areas at the foothill of Sabarimala on 17.10.2018 by attacking the public property and stopping the vehicles that crossed through the road and by attacking women devotees who had arrived to visit Sabarimala.
The AG is required to provide consent before the contempt petition can be filed in the SC, as per Part II Section 3(c) of the Rules to Regulate Proceedings for Contempt of the Supreme Court, 1975.
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