SC to appoint 'Amicus Curiae' in Sabarimala case

The Supreme Court on Friday said that it would appoint an 'Amicus Curiae' to solve the Sabrimala Temple case constitutionally.

The term 'Amicus Curiae' is referred for someone who is not a party to a case or solicited by any of the parties to assist a court.

The apex court had earlier questioned the prohibition on allowing women to enter the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala, stating that such a practice had no constitutional basis.

Petitioner in the case told the Supreme Court that he is receiving death threats and expressed his wish to withdraw the case.

Responding to this, the SC said that it was not possible to withdraw a PIL such as this.

Traditionally, many temples bar menstruating women from entering the premises. In Sabarimala, women aged between 10 and 50 are not permitted to enter.

Last year in December, Laxmi Shastri, a social activist, had petitioned the court arguing that such bans on women violate Articles 14 (equality), 15 (prohibition of discrimination), 25 (freedom to practise any religion) and 26 (freedom to manage religious affairs) of the Constitution.