Sabarimala Verdict: Review petition filed in Supreme Court

New Delhi : Days after Supreme Court allowed entry of women in the temple premises; the National Ayyappa Devotee Association has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the earlier verdict.

Chief Minister Pinayari Vijayan had called a meeting earlier today to discuss the matter with the chief priest of Sabarimala Temple, who snubbed the call despite protests at Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai. On Sunday, Sabarimala priest Kantararu Mohanaru said they would want to hear the final decision of the state government with regard to the filing of a review petition against the apex court’s verdict. Their course of action would depend on the same, the priest added.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by justice Dipak Misra had ruled that “the devotees of Lord Ayyappa are just Hindus and do not constitute a separate religious denomination”, allowing women to enter the temple premises.

“Any rule based on discrimination or segregation of women pertaining to biological characteristics is not only unfounded, indefensible and implausible but can also never pass the muster of constitutionality,” a verdict pronounced by Justice Misra for himself and Justice AM Khanwilkar said.

The temple had barred women of menstrual age from entering the main area of the temple, tagging women as impure.