SC Sabarimala verdict: Focus shifts to Left govt in Kerala

Ahead of the pilgrimage season at the Lord Ayyappa shrine commencing on November 17, the focus has now shifted to the LDF government in Kerala over allowing women in the 10-50 age group to offer prayers as the Supreme Court has decided to keep pending the pleas seeking review of its verdict.

The left government would consult legal experts to get more clarity on the Supreme Court's Sabarimala verdict but it seems that the earlier order on allowing entry of women of all age groups still stands, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Vijayan, who met the media here to explain the government stand in the backdrop of the apex court's decision to refer the case to a larger bench, said the state government was always ready to implement the court order, whatsoever it may be.

The top court has decided to set up a larger bench to re-examine religious issues including those arising out of its earlier verdict that lifted a centuries-old ban on women of menstruating age visiting the shrine.

Asked if women will be provided security to enter the shrine, Vijayan said such things can only be decided after clearing "certain doubts and confusions" in the order.

Ahead of the pilgrimage season commencing on November 17, Vijayan said "It seems like the September 28, 2018, order still stands. However, there are certain confusions with regard to today's order.

The court ordered for a seven-judge bench to consider various gender related issues.It had kept pending the review petitions on Sabarimala. We need to get more clarity on various matters," he said.

Vijayan said the Supreme Court has not changed its stand with regard to the September 28 order of 2018 that allowed women of all age groups to offer prayers at the shrine.

"We will study all legal aspects of the order..we will consult legal experts and decide the future course," he said when asked about the entry of women of all age groups into the shrine since there was no stay.

Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said the verdict needs to be studied in detail.

"I request the opposition not to indulge in any political exploitation of the issue like last year," he told reporters.

When asked if young women will be allowed at the shrine, he said "This is not the time to comment about it."
Asked if the CPI(M) stand on the matter had changed, the Marxist leader said "we have said whatever the SC decides, we will implement."
Kanakadurga alleged the decision to leave the matter to the seven-judge bench was "politically motivated."