Any particular age group of women cannot be banned from entering into the temple, Supreme Court clarified, under right to manage religious affairs, to Sabarimala temple management.

Banning the entry of women in the age group of 10 to 50 years in the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, is being carried on as a customary practice here.

But after raising several objections on the system, a bench of Justice Dipak Misra, Justice V. Gopala Gowda and Justice Kurian Joseph said that, it would be examined under the provisions of constitution only.

“The gender equality is a constitutional message and they (temple management) cannot say that this (banning women) comes under their right to manage religious affairs,” the bench said.      

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Indira Jaising, a senior advocate, appearing for NGO 'Happy to Bleed' which favors women's entry inside the historic shrine, said, “The law is meant for removal of social ills and constitutional principles would prevail over discriminatory customs and beliefs.”

"The ban on entry of women cannot be said to b e the part of the right to manage a public religious places like a temple," she added.

The court was hearing a plea by Indian Young Lawyers Association and others questioning the ban on the entry of women in the age group of 10 to 50 years in the Sabarimala temple.

By Phani Ch