PTI, NEW DELHI: Two petitions were filed in the Supreme Court Monday seeking review of its judgement which lifted the ban on entry of women in age group 10 to 50 years into the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, contending it was “absolutely untenable and irrational”.
The separate pleas were filed by National Ayyappa Devotees Association and the Nair Service Society (NSS) in connection with the September 28 judgment which had allowed entry of women of all ages in the hill-top shrine.
A five-judge constitution bench headed by then Chief Justice Dipak Misra, had in its 4:1 verdict, said banning the entry of women into the shrine is gender discrimination and that the practice violates rights of Hindu women.
The review petition filed by Shylaja Vijayan, president of the Devotees Association, said Lord Ayyappa, wanted to keep “himself not being distracted by the presence of ladies of fertile ages” and this is faith. “Faith cannot be judged by scientific or rationale reasons or logic,” the plea said.
“The notion that the judgment under review is revolutionary, one which removes the stigma or the concept of dirt or pollution associated with menstruation, is unfounded. It is a judgment welcomed by hypocrites who were aspiring for media headlines. On the merits of the case, as well, the said judgment is absolutely untenable and irrational, if not perverse,” the Devotees Association plea, filed through advocate Mathews J Nedumpara, said.
