Sabarimala Verdict | HISTORIC: Supreme Court allows women of all ages to enter the temple

In a historic verdict, the Supreme Court on Friday ended the centuries old practice and allowed women of all ages to enter Sabarimala temple. The 4:1 judgment of the Supreme Court upheld women's right to worship Lord Ayyappa in Sabarimala. While terming the ban on women in the age group of 10 to 51 as religious patriarchy, CJI Dipak Misra declared the discriminatory act as unconstitutional and violative of fundamental rights.

"Historically women have been treated with inequality. Society has to undergo a perception shift. Any relationship with the creator is a transcendental one. Suppression of women on biological aspects cannot be given a seal of legitimacy. Patriarchy cannot overwhelm religion. Religion is a way of life. Biological or physiological reasons cannot be accepted in freedom of faith. Subversion of women on physiological factors cannot be allowed", he said.

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The Chief Justice of India, while calling the ban discriminatory, said that it is in clear violation of the fundamental rights of the women.

"The practice in the Sabarimala temple of not allowing women is discriminatory to the woman’s right to practice her religion. Women have fundamental rights to practice their religion. The rule that bans women is in clear violation of it. The practice of exclusion of the women of the age group 10-50 cannot be regarded as an essential religious practice," said CJI Dipak Misra.

READ | Sabarimala Verdict: 'Suppression Of Women On Biological Aspects Can't Be Given A Seal Of Legitimacy', CJI Dipak Misra gives Out A Historic Judgment On Sabarimala Temple

CJI Dipak Misra while pronouncing the judgment also said that women can't be suppressed on the basis of biological aspects and that the same can't get a seal of legitimacy. 

"Suppression of women on biological aspects cannot be given a seal of legitimacy. Patriarchy cannot overwhelm religion. Religion is a way of life. Biological or physiological reasons cannot be accepted in freedom of faith. Subversion of women on physiological factors cannot be allowed," said the CJI.

Justice Indu Malhotra pronounced the dissenting judgment in the case and said it’s not up to the courts to decide if such religious practices should be struck down and that rationality has no place in matters of faith.
Earlier in August, the Supreme Court had said that women have the constitutional right to enter Sabarimala temple in Kerala and pray like men without being discriminated against.