New Delhi: Hearing on the pleas related with Sabarimala women entry has been finished. The Supreme Court has granted seven days time for those advocates who could not present their part before the bench. The pleas were considered by a five member bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.
A bunch of 56 review petitions were submitted including that of NSS,Tantri and RSS organisations.
The court began the hearing with the plea of NSS. Senior Advocate K Parasaran started argument for NSS. Parasaran argued that it is an error to strike down a temple custom under Article 15. He also said the judgement did not consider the crucial aspect that the Article 15(2) does not cover religious places.
Parasaran presented a detailed argument on Sabarimala issues as it is not a bilateral disputes, its consequences will fall on other religions too.
After Parasaran’s arument, Senior Councel V Giri appeared for Tantri. Giri argued that the restriction for women of menstrual age is based on the character of the deity. Deity has the character of permanent celibate and religious right of a devotee under Article 25 has to be exercised in consonance with the character of the deity. He also added that every devotee who goes to temple cannot question the essential temple practices.
Dr. A M Singhvi appeared for former Chairman of TDB Prayar Gopalakrishnan. Sr. Adv.Shekhar Naphade, Sr. Adv. Venkatramani, Adv. Venkataraman, Adv.Gopal Sankaranarayanan too were appeared before the bench. Then Sr.Adv.Jaideep Gupta started his argument for the State Government. He said, the Government is opposing the review as no grounds have been made out for review.The social peace has been destroyed is not a ground for reviewing the judgement.Constitutional invalidity cannot be permitted to go on.
Vijay Hansaria argued and then, for Travancore Devaswom Board, Sr. Counsel Rakesh Dwivedi started argument. He told any practice that disentitles equality will fall foul of Article 25. Indira Jaising appeared for Bindu and Kanaka Durga,the women who entered temple.
Advocates for the State Government and Travancore Devaswom Board neglected and insulted the emotions of lakhs of devotees again. They took a stern stand before the court favouring woman entry, thus favouring the breach of rituals.
Supreme Court reserved the judgement and granted a week time for submitting written arguments.
