Sabarimala Temple: Biological phenomenon cannot be grounds for discrimination, says SC

The Supreme Court, on 25 April, questioned the Sabarimala temple authorities on their intent of making a classification on the basis of gender, stating that a biological phenomenon cannot be a reason for discriminating against a class of citizens, and imposing restrictions on their entry.

The Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala does not allow women between the ages of 10 and 50 - that is, women of a reproductive age - to worship in the temple premises. According to the Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the temple, as well as the Kerala government, this is because the deity is celibate.

The Supreme Court is hearing a PIL against this prohibition filed by the NGO Happy to Bleed that was set up late last year after the head of the temple said he would allow women to enter if there was a machine to check whether they are menstruating.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court observed that all practices are acceptable, till the time that no distinctions are made between genders.

The temple administration responded, saying that women aren't allowed to step foot on the hill where the temple is located on grounds that the premises are sanctified, and that this is a tradition that dates back hundreds of years.

"When recruitment for the armed forces takes place, citizens between the age of 18-24 are considered. It may seem like classification against men, but the reason is endurance", was the explanation cited by the temple authorities before the apex court.