New Delhi: The Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice S. A. Bobde remarked that the 2018 verdict of the Supreme Court in the Sabarimala case is not the final word. He made the remark while accepting the plea of Bindu Ammini, who was not allowed to enter the holy shrine of Sabarimala.
According to traditions women between the ages of 10 and 50 are not allowed entry in the temple of Lord Ayyappan whose form at Sabarimala is that of the eternal celibate. In 2018, the Supreme Court had ruled that women of all ages must be allowed in the temple in violation of the ancient customs.
A host of petitions were filed against the verdict and last month the Supreme Court referred the petitions to a seven-judge bench.
The bench hearing the petition of Bindu Ammini said that they case will be taken up next week along with other petitions that have come up. Earlier, another activist Rehna Fathima also approached the Supreme Court for allowing entry into the temple.
Women activists are trying to enter the holy shrine by using force in a bid to tarnish the ancient rituals. Even after the Supreme Court referred the petition to a larger bench questioning the verdict, these activists cite the 2018 verdict while trying to enter the shrine.
The CJI’s observation becomes significant after the recent developments at the holy temple of Sabarimala.
