Kerala assembly Speaker turns down private bill on Sabarimala issue

Kerala Assembly Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan on Tuesday turned down a private bill on the Sabarimala Temple issue, submitted by Congress MLA M Vincent.

It was declined on the recommendation of the law department underlining that as per the Supreme Court verdict over the issue on October 28, a law in this regard would be "unconstitutional".

The bill urged for a new law that would consider Ayyappa devotees as a specific religious group. It also suggested a new law to protect the rituals and customs of the Temple.

Last month, a string of protests was witnessed in Kerala when the temple opened for the first time after the top court had passed the order, allowing women of all age group to enter into the shrine. Earlier, entry of women of menstruating age, between 10 and 50 years, was prohibited into the shrine.

Over 3,505 protesters were arrested and at least 529 cases were filed in connection with the series of incidents inciting violence in the state.