Page 2 - Sabarimala Case

Kerala CM accuses Oppn of creating 'smokescreen' in Sabarimala gold row

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday accused the UDF-led opposition of creating a "smokescreen" over the Sabarimala gold-plating issue and said the government is not scared of any such attempts. He alleged that the Congress-led front were afraid of facts, and that is why they were continuously disrupting Assembly proceedings and reluctant to give a notice to discuss the matter in the House. The CM made the remarks in the Assembly when the session resumed after a brief break following a scuffle that broke in the Well of the House between UDF MLAs and watch-and-ward personnel during the question hour. The opposition legislators exchanged heated words with ruling party members during the question hour. The UDF members have been disrupting the House proceedings since Monday, seeking the resignation of Devaswom minister V N Vasavan over alleged irregularities linked to the reduced weight of gold-plated coverings on 'Dwarapalaka' idols at the Sabarimala temple. Vijayan sa

No fresh affidavit filed on Sabarimala, rituals strictly followed, says TDB

Travancore Devaswom Board President P S Prasanth on Wednesday said the board's last affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court in 2016 sought to protect the traditional rituals and customs related to the entry of young women in the Sabarimala temple. No new affidavit has been submitted since then, and the previous one is no longer relevant, he told reporters here. Prasanth was responding to a question about whether the TDB would change its position in the apex court regarding the entry of women of menstruating age group into the Lord Ayyappa shrine. The opposition Congress and BJP have asked the TDB to clarify its stance on the issue. The TDB president said in the past four to five years, all rituals and customs have been strictly followed at the Sabarimala temple, without any deviations. "The matter is pending before the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court. As far as the TDB is concerned, the last affidavit submitted by the Board in 2016 wanted to protect the rituals and cust

Sabarimala witnesses unprecedented rush of devotees ahead of Mandala pooja

The famed Lord Ayyappa temple here is witnessing unprecedented heavy rush on Wednesday morning with just hours left for the performance of the auspicious Mandala pooja at the hill shrine. Long queues of pilgrims carrying the sacred bundle of "irunmudikettu" on their heads and chanting "swamiye saranam Ayyappa" mantras could be seen at the Sannidhanam, the temple complex. The sea of devotees was waiting to get a glimpse of the mandala pooja which marks the culmination of the first leg of the two month-long annual pilgrimage at the Lord Ayyappa temple. A ceremonial procession carrying the sacred Thanka Anki (golden attire) of Lord Ayyappa reached the hill shrine here last evening. According to temple management sources, the pooja would be performed after adorning the 'anki' on the idol of Lord Ayyappa, the principal deity. The poojas and rituals would be performed between 10.30 am and 11.30 am, they said. After the Mandala Pooja, the shrine would be closed by 11.00 pm and would be

Over 13 Sabarimala pilgrims injured as bus overturns in Kottayam, Kerala

More than 13 Sabarimala pilgrims were injured after a bus they were travelling in was involved in an accident in Kottayam district on Wednesday morning, police said. The accident occurred at Kanamala, near Erumeli, they said. The pilgrims, hailing from Kolar in neighbouring Karnataka, were proceeding to the hill shrine located in Pathanamthitta district. A senior official said as many as 43 people, including 40 pilgrims, were in the vehicle when it overturned after the driver lost control of it. Over 13 people suffered injuries, he said. Four injured pilgrims were rushed to the government medical College here, he said, adding that four persons were taken to the general hospital and some other accident victims were admitted to a nearby private hospital, the official added.

Kerala moves SC against HC order increasing pilgrims to Sabarimala temple

It said that to control the Covid-19 pandemic during the Sabarimala temple festival season between December 20 and January 14 next year, the state had constituted the high-level committee

Pleas challenging CAA to be heard after Sabarimala reference case: SC

SC also said that pleas concerning Tripura, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, which is going ahead with the implementation of CAA without framing any rules, can be dealt with separately.

Will hear pleas on CAA after arguments in Sabarimala case are finished: SC

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said this after senior advocate Kapil Sibal sought urgent hearing of CAA matters and said that till date, the Centre has not filed a reply in the matter

Sabarimala case: SC says it can refer questions of law to larger bench

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde framed seven questions to be heard by a nine-judge Constitutional bench on issues relating to freedom of religion under the Constitution and faith

SC reserves order on referring questions to larger bench in review petition

The bench was hearing the issues relating to discriminations against women at various places of worship including the Sabarimala temple

Not discussing issue of women's entry into Sabarimala temple, says SC

A nine-judge bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde is hearing several senior lawyers, including jurist FS Nariman, on the issue of framing of questions to be decided by it

SC asks Kerala govt to come out with exclusive law for Sabarimala

A bench headed by Justice N V Ramana asked the state to place before it by third week of January next year the legislation, also covering the aspects of welfare of pilgrims visiting there

Sabarimala temple opens Saturday evening, no police protection for women

The pilgrims would be allowed to climb the 18 holy steps after the padi puja and have darshan.

Sabarimala once more

Social justice and progressive social reforms are never a walk in the park

SC's Sabarimala verdict: Kerala CM Vijayan to consult legal experts

He also said the state government was always ready to implement the court order, whatsoever it may be

Here's the full story of the Sabarimala temple case so far

The Supreme Court on Thursday said a larger seven-judge bench will re-examine various religious issues, including the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple

'Religious issue': SC sends women's entry at Sabarimala to larger bench

The majority verdict did not say anything adverse against the apex court's September 28, 2018 decision allowing women to enter the shrine nor did it stay the earlier judgement

Sabarimala verdict LIVE: SC delays ruling on ban on women entering temple

The Supreme Court of India delivered its verdict on Sabarimala. Catch LIVE updates reactions that follow SC verdict on Sabarimala temple

Women's entry at Sabarimala: Supreme Court refers matter to larger bench

Five judge bench rules by 3:2 majority, Justices Chandrachud and Nariman dissent

Ayodhya to Sabarimala, key verdicts from CJI Ranjan Gogoi before Nov 17

At present, the apex court is on Diwali break and will re-open on November 4

Sabarimala issue set to decide political fortunes in Kerala yet again

In the recent Lok Sabha polls, post-Sabarimala agitation, the Left front had suffered a massive drubbing, losing 19 out of the total of 20 seats