SC reserves order on pleas against ban on entry of women at Sabarimala

A view of the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, Kerala. File | Photo

A five-judge Constitution Bench has asked the counsels of both sides to compile the submissions and submit before these within seven days

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas challenging the ban on entry of women in the age group of 10-50 into the Sabarimala temple in Kerela.

A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra asked the counsels of both sides to compile the submissions and submit before these within seven days.

“We will pass orders. Judgment reserved. Hearing concluded. Advocate on Record of both the sides will collect written submissions and compile it and submit before the court in seven days,” the Bench also comprising Justices R.F. Nariman, A.M. Khanwilkar, D.Y. Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra said.

The apex court had on July 31 said that the constitutional scheme prohibiting exclusion has “some value” in a “vibrant democracy”.

The court was hearing a batch of pleas filed by petitioners Indian Young Lawyers Association and others.

The Kerala government, which has been changing its stand on the contentious issue of women of a particular age group entering the Sabarimala temple, on July 18 told the Supreme Court that it now favours their entry.

The apex court had on October 13, 2017, referred the issue to a Constitution Bench after framing five “significant” questions including whether the practice of banning entry of women into the temple amounted to discrimination and violated their fundamental rights under the Constitution.