The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday questioned the prohibition on allowing women to enter the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala in Kerala, stating that such a practice had no constitutional basis.
Hearing a petition filed by the Indian Young Lawyers Association, the apex court asked the Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the Sabarimala temple, to make its stance clear.
The next hearing in this case has been scheduled for February 8.
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.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app