The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which is responsible for administering temples in Kerala, on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that it welcomed the entry of women of all ages to the Sabarimala shrine. The statement came as the Supreme Court was hearing review petitions against its landmark verdict of September 28, 2018, allowing entry to women of all ages.
The declaration marks a change in the TDB's stand on the contentious issue; the board had opposed the entry of women of all ages to Sabarimala before the Supreme Court verdict. Following an uproar against the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala, it was speculated the TDB, which falls under the Kerala government, would file a review petition.
Senior counsel Rakesh Dwivedi represented the TDB in the Supreme Court. Responding to an observation by Justice Indu Malhotra on the TDB's original stance opposing the entry of women of all ages to Sabarimala, Dwivedi said the board had taken a decision to respect the judgement and not seek a review.
On Wednesday, the Kerala government also informed the Supreme Court that it was vehemently opposed to the review petitions.
Senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, appearing for the Kerala government, told the bench—also comprising Justices R.F. Nariman, A.M. Khanwilkar, D.Y. Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra—that there was a consensus among the four judges who delivered the majority judgement on three aspects, i.e., Article 26, 25 (2) and Rule 3 (b) of the Kerala Act. Gupta said in none of the review petitions' questions have been raised regarding these three points and therefore other aspects "raised in the review petition will make no difference".
Another senior advocate, Vijay Hansaria, also appearing for the Kerala government, said a case cannot be allowed to be reopened by way of review petition. The state government said there is a distinction between essential practice of a temple and the essential practice of the religion. If this essential practice test is applied temple-wise, then the purpose would be defeated, it said.
(With PTI inputs)
