The LDF Government wants the Supreme Court to set up a commission to discuss and evolve a consensus on the issue of allowing menstruating women to worship in the Sabarimala Sri Ayyappa temple. The government has submitted an affidavit in the court on these lines, says State Devaswom Minister G Sudhakaran.
The issue had gained much attention after women lawyers approached the Supreme Court seeking a direction to end discrimination against women at the temple and protection of their rights. According to the age-old tradition, women between the age of 10 and 50 are disallowed inside the temple of the bachelor god. Mr Sudhakaran, a strong votary of equal rights for both sexes in matters of faith, claimed that there was no such restriction in Sabarimala in olden days. However, he said the government did not want to impose its will on believers.
The Travancore Devaswom Board which administers the temple had earlier submitted before the court that it wants the custom barring women to continue. The government has now written to the board which is now headed by its nominees to reconsider its stand.
However, the TDB has indicated that it may not be able to alter its position in the SC made clear in the affidavit last year.