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Women Devotees Of Sabrimala Temple Seek Police Protection
Sabrimala temple has been a site of tension since Former Chief Justice Deepak Mishra delivered a judgement allowing entry of women aged between 10-50 into the temple. This Judgement was delivered by Supreme Court’s divisional bench on 28th September 2018 with ratio of 4:1 where 4 out of 5 judges bench supported the decision.
Since the delivery of this verdict there has been constant oppose by the devotees of Lord Ayyappa. There has been several life threatening attacks on the women who have tried to enter the shrine. On 2nd January 2 women Kanak Durga aged 39 and Bindu aged 40,both of menstruating age entered the shrine post which the shrine was closed for purification ceremonies, these women since then have been receiving life threatening messages and calls. Since 2nd January both women had been staying in an undisclosed location outside Kochi. However, when Kanak Durga returned home she was badly thrashed by her mother in law resulting in serious injuries, for treatment of which she is admitted in a hospital.
On 17th January 2019, Senior Advocate Indira Jaising appearing on behalf of the women mentioned before in the petition that round-the-clock police protection for Bindu and Kanaka Durga to be provided. She also sought for urgent listing of the matter basis that the women were living under constant fear& needed police protection and security from the agitated mob who have been protesting their temple entry. Agreeing to the request of counsel, CJ Ranjan Gogoi has put up the matter for mentioning on 18th January 2019.
For safety and peaceful pilgrimage the petition filed also seeks police protection for all the women devotees who wish to enter the temple’s hill top shrine. Advocate Indira also mentioned a recent case where 2 women who tried to enter the temple on 16th January 2019 were stopped after protests erupted in the trek path for protesting their entry.
The petition also claims that the Purification ceremony or to shut the temple on account of entry of women in the age group of 10 to 50 years violates the constitutional ban on untouchability as per Article 17. Thus the petition also seeks directions to be issued to declare that the rite of purification diminishes the dignity as human beings and violates their fundamental right.
