Travancore Devaswom Board to challenge SC verdict on Sabarimala temple

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which is the regulatory authority of all Hindu temples in Kerala, on Friday announced that they will appeal against the Supreme Court's verdict allowing women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala Temple.

Addressing the media here, A. Padmakumar, the president of the board, said, "We have decided to appeal against the Supreme Court verdict that allowed women of all age groups to enter Sabarimala Temple."

The apex court had on September 28 allowed females between 10 and 50 (in their reproductive phase) years of age to enter into the temple. However, no woman of menstruating age has yet been able to enter the shrine owing to the protests across the state.

A number of devotees blocked the entry of women trekking up the hill to the Lord Ayappa shrine. The doors of the temple opened on Wednesday at 5 pm, and will close on October 22.