Sabarimala: Women Of All Ages Allowed

 The Supreme Court on 28 September paved the way for entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple at Shabrimala in Kerala. The five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in its 4:1 verdict, said that banning the entry of women into the shrine is gender discrimination and the practice violates rights of Hindu women. The CJI said religion is a way of life basically to link life with divinity. While Justices Nariman and Chandrachud concurred with the CJI and Justice Khanwilkar, Justice Indu Malhotra gave a dissenting verdict. Justice Malhotra, the lone woman judge in the bench, passed a dissenting judgement and said that issues which have deep religious connotation should not be tinkered with to maintain secular atmosphere in the country. She was of the view that it is not for courts to determine which religious practices are to be struck down except in issues of social evil like 'Sati'.

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