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The Supreme Court’s verdict on 28th October, which allowed the entry of women to the Sabrimala shrine, triggered massive protests by Hindu organisation and devotees across Kerela. It led to 48 pleas for review of the judgement which the apex court has scheduled to hear from 6th February, 2019. But in the turn of events, four women have moved to the Supreme Court seeking to intervene in support of the judgement.
Reshma C V, Shanila, Bindu A and Kanakadurga, hailing from Kerala, have filed applications seeking to be heard as interveners. Of the four, Bindu and Kanakadurga, aged 44 and 42, were the first to have stepped into the holy precincts after the apex court's historic judgement lifted the ban on entry of girls and women of age between 10 and 50 into the shrine of Lord Ayyappa. The other two applicants- 33 year old Reshma and 29 year old Shanila, have attempted twice to enter the pilgrim but they were harassed by the self-proclaimed devotees after which they had to discontinue.
Bindu, who is a law teacher at the Kannur University School of Legal Studies, says that she is a devoted worshipper of “Dharma Shastha” , who is worshipped as Lord Ayyappa, and wishes to pay her respects to him. But after her darshan on 2nd January, 2019, she has been facing aggressive threats to life after their temple visit. Similarly Kanakadurga, who is a believer of all Hindu gods and a victim of discriminatory practices practiced during menstrual periods, has been facing life threating threats after her entry to the shrine. On January 17, 2019, the court ordered of round-the-clock police protection to both of them.
The applicants Reshma and Shanila mentioned in their applications that "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. The applicants may be permitted to intervene and make their submissions before this court when the Review Petitions are heard by this court, in order to oppose the Reviews,"
These women state that they have been the victims of menstrual taboos and have faced several restrictions associated with menstruation but the judgement of the apex court upheld the dignity, liberty and equality of women of all ages and sent a strong message to the society against menstrual taboo.
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