Security for women who entered shrine

New Delhi, January 18

The SC today ordered the Kerala Government to provide security to two women who recently entered the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala in the state despite protests by Hindu groups.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi directed the state to give security to Kanakdurga and Bindu after senior advocate Indira Jaising contended they were being hounded and one of them was assaulted by her mother-in-law. The Bench, however, rejected her plea to tag this petition with the petitions seeking review of the Constitution Bench verdict lifting age restrictions regarding entry of women into the Sabarimala temple.

On behalf of the Kerala Government, senior counsel Vijay Hansaria told the Bench that 51 women had entered the shrine since the SC’s historic verdict allowing entry of women irrespective of their age. — TNS