08 November,2016 08:38 AM IST | | Agencies
In a U-turn, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government of Kerala yesterday informed the Supreme Court that it favoured the entry of women of all age groups in the historic Sabarimala temple in the state
Women between 10-50 years of age are barred from Sabarimala temple
New Delhi: In a U-turn, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government of Kerala yesterday informed the Supreme Court that it favoured the entry of women of all age groups in the historic Sabarimala temple in the state.
The counsel for the state government, which had earlier supported the ban on women's entry in the temple in its additional affidavit filed in July this year, told the apex court it will now go by its original response filed in 2007 favouring entry of women in the temple premises.
Initially, the LDF government had taken a progressive stand in 2007 by favouring women's entry in the temple, which was over-turned by the Congress-led United Democratic Front dispensation. However, the UDF had taken a view that it was against the entry of women of the age group of 10-to-50 years into the temple as such a practice was being followed since time immemorial.
The bench also recorded the submission of senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for the Travancore Devaswom Board which manages the shrine. The bench, has now fixed the matter for hearing on February 13 next year, said the stand of the government is not the final one as it will take a decision after deliberating upon various aspects.
