Enforcing Sabarimala order was going to be hard; govt, Oppn made it harder

How the state machinery and politicians failed women devotees hoping to enter the Sabarimala shrine

I’m disillusioned by the response of the Kerala police and politicians to the Supreme Court judgment lifting the ban on entry into the Sabarimala shrine by women between the ages of 10 and 50. The police response suggests scant respect for the judgement whilst that of many state politicians exhibits a clear hint of deliberate defiance.

Everyone knew that enforcing the Sabarimala judgment would not be easy. Emotions have been aroused and protests were expected. Tradition-minded devotees would make every effort to prevent menstruating women entering the shrine. But this was also the challenge facing the police.

On Wednesday, when