New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram: The Supreme Court Tuesday said it would hear on November 13 multiple petitions challenging the Sabarimala verdict allowing entry of women of all age groups into the shrine that remained unimplemented following week-long protests.
A day after the doors to Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala in Kerala closed, six days after opening for the first time since the Supreme Court lifted the ban on entry of women of menstruating age, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused the BJP and the RSS of “hidden conspiracy” to destroy peace at the temple.
At least 12 women in the 10-50 age group had made a failed attempt to trek the hills and had to return following protests from believers. Even women over the age of 50 were stopped at Sabarimala.
An apex court bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul told lawyer Mathews J Nedumpara that it has already passed an order with regard to listing of petitions on November 13.
“Sabarimala cases will be taken up on November 13 at 3 PM. The order has been passed,” the CJI said when Mathews J Nedumpara, representing the National Ayyappa Devotees Association again mentioned the plea against the verdict for urgent hearing.
Earlier, the court had noted that there were 19 review petitions pending in the matter, filed by the Association and others seeking a review of its Sabarimala verdict.
A five-judge constitution bench in a 4-1 verdict last month lifted the centuries-old ban on entry of girls and women in the menstruating age of 10-to 50 years into the hilltop shrine.
The petition filed by Shylaja Vijayan, president, National Ayyappa Devotees Association through Nedumpara, submitted that faith cannot be judged by scientific or rationale reasons or logic.
Union minister Smriti Irani also waded into the escalating Sabarimala row, saying the right to pray did not mean the right to desecrate. “I am nobody to speak against the Supreme Court verdict as I am a serving cabinet minister. But just plain common sense is that would you carry a napkin seeped with menstrual blood and walk into a friend’s house. You would not. “And would you think it is respectful to do the same when you walk into the house of god? That is the difference. I have the right to pray, but no right to desecrate. That is the difference that we need to recognise and respect,” Irani said at an event in Mumbai.
Hitting out at the BJP and the RSS for the agitation at Sabarimala that stalled the entry of women in the hitherto banned 10-50 age group, Vijayan alleged there was a “hidden conspiracy” to destroy peace at the temple. He alleged the agitations were a “planned and deliberate attempt” to create an atmosphere of tension in the state.
The CPI-M strongman also asserted that no force will be allowed to turn the shrine complex into a centre for trouble-makers. Talking to reporters, he alleged that the Sangh Parivar was attempting to “insult” and “mislead” believers.
While maintaining that the faith of believers would be respected, Vijayan made it clear that the government had the responsibility to implement the apex court order.
Vijayan said both the main opposition Congress and BJP were “playing politics” on the Sabarimala issue since they had earlier welcomed the court verdict.
Some leaders of the Congress are joining hands with the RSS and it was a “dangerous trend,” he said. Attempts are being made to destroy the peace and harmony at Sabarimala, he said, adding criminals will not be allowed to turn the temple complex into a trouble zone.
The government will restore the peace and harmony at Sabarimala and this will be through the cooperation of “actual believers” of Lord Ayyappa, Vijayan said. Vijayan also made it clear it was the constitutional responsibility of the LDF government to implement the court order and said protection will be given to women who wish to offer prayers at the shrine.
The blocking of women and attack on media personnel, who had come to cover the historic event, was part of a conspiracy led by the RSS, he alleged.
The temple in Sabarimala had witnessed high drama and tense moments for six days when it was opened for monthly prayers from October 17 to 22.
Vijayan also criticised temple tantri (priest), Kandararu Rajeevaru, who had said he would close the temple and go if women were allowed inside the shrine and the agitation by assistants of priests who had protested near the holy 18 steps. (PTI)
