Thiruvananthapuram: The State Government has clarified that it will not file a fresh affidavit in the Supreme Court in connection with the Sabarimala women’s entry case, nor will it make any changes to the existing affidavit. The affidavit submitted during the tenure of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy — which supported the protection of traditional customs at Sabarimala — will remain the government’s official stand before the court.

Meanwhile, the Travancore Devaswom Board has also decided to reiterate the same position in its submission before the Supreme Court.

Shifting Stands Over the Years

The State Government’s position on the Sabarimala women’s entry issue has seen multiple shifts over the years.

• During the V.S. Achuthanandan government, when G. Sudhakaran served as Devaswom Minister, the state filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court supporting the entry of women.
• Subsequently, the Oommen Chandy-led government introduced significant changes to that position, arguing that the court should not interfere in temple customs and requesting dismissal of the petition.
• In November 2016, the Left government stated that women of all age groups should be allowed entry. However, instead of filing a new affidavit, it informed the court that it would stand by the position taken in 2007.

At present, the affidavit filed by the UDF government remains the official document before the Supreme Court.

Devaswom Board’s Position

The Travancore Devaswom Board, which had supported women’s entry in 2019, has now reversed its stance. Board President K. Jayakumar stated that the Board would file an affidavit opposing women’s entry and supporting the protection of temple customs.

He added that the Board had taken a similar stand in the past as well and is reaffirming that position now.

Supreme Court Directions

The Supreme Court had earlier directed all concerned parties, including the State Government, to submit their written positions by the 14th of this month.

The matter will be examined by a nine-judge Constitution Bench, to be constituted by the Chief Justice of India.

• Detailed hearings are scheduled to begin on April 7.
• The time frame for arguments has been fixed until April 22.

Background of the Case

The central issue in the case is whether the traditional practice of restricting entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50 at the Sabarimala temple violates constitutional principles.

In 2018, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing women of all ages to enter the temple. The verdict triggered widespread protests across Kerala. Review petitions were subsequently filed, leading to the matter being referred to a larger Constitution Bench for reconsideration.

The renewed positions taken by both the State Government and the Travancore Devaswom Board are expected to have significant implications for the outcome of the case. Legal experts believe the final verdict of the Constitution Bench will be crucial in shaping the future of the long-standing dispute.