Govt urges SC Commission on permitting women in Sabarimala

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 26 (UNI) The Kerala Government has filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court seeking that it appoint a commission to decide on the issue of permitting women devotees to visit Sabarimala temple, state Cooperation and Devaswom Minster G Sudhakaran told the Assembly today.

Since it was a century old tradition that women aged between 10 and 50 would not be allowed to visit Sabarimala, the government in its affidavit had requested the Supreme Court to appoint a suitable commission comprising priests who have profound and authentic knowledge about Hindu religion, he said in a written reply to Mr Therambil Ramakrishnan (Cong) and others.

The state government has been of the opinion that it should not deny permission to women entering the Lord Ayyappa temple based on their age.

However, the government had no interest to effect changes in temple traditions on its own, he said adding that it had also no plan to discuss voluntary organisations on how it would file the affidavit.

The government would take further steps in this regard after gettting suggestions from the apex court, he added.

Mr Sudhakaran also informed that about 50 per cent increase had been noted in the turnout of devotees during the past festival season at Sabarimala and also an increase of Rs five crore in the revenue during the festival season.

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