Women of all Age Groups should be allowed to enter the Sabarimala Temple: Supreme Court

Taking a remarkable stand towards the prevention of discrimination against the women, the Supreme Court has held that a woman has an equal right to pray just like a man and her right to pray does not depend on any law. The Supreme Court has given these observations while hearing a petition challenging the ban on the entry of women aged between 10-50 in Kerela's Sabarimala temple on the grounds of biological factors as unconstitutional and illegal. Women above the age of 10 and below the age of 50 are not allowed to enter the Sabarimala temple due to their monthly cycle of menstruation. The Court has made it very clear that a temple is a public place which is open to all and that there is no concept of a private temple. The Court has further stated that everyone should be allowed to go to the temple and that the denial of a woman's entry in the temple is discriminatory, against the constitution and violative of the fundamental rights. The Kerela government has also supported the stand that women should be allowed to enter inside the Sabarimala temple. The Court has directed the Kerela government and various other authorities to ensure the entry of women of all age groups in the temple.