The Travancore Devaswom Board on Monday petitioned the Supreme Court to seek more time to implement its September 28 verdict that allowed entry of women of all age groups to the Sabarimala temple. The plea reportedly cites lack of basic amenities at Sabarimala, among other factors, for seeking more time to implement the Supreme Court verdict.
Given weeks of protests and posturing by groups affiliated to the RSS and BJP and opposition from the Congress, Kerala's ruling Pinarayi Vijayan government had last week called an all-party meeting before the Sabarimala shrine reopened on November 16.
It was then speculated that the Vijayan government could cite poor infrastructure, caused by the Kerala floods, as a reason to appeal for delaying the implementation of the Supreme Court verdict.
Meanwhile on Monday, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi reiterated that the Supreme Court would take up the review petitions related to the Sabarimala verdict only on January 22.
The Supreme Court was hearing a representation from the National Ayyappa Devotees Association, which sought urgent hearing of the petitions on account of the “emergency situation” at Sabarimala. The association had also referred to the poor amenities at Sabarimala.
