New Delhi: Sept 28: A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, in a majority judgment has upheld the right of women of all ages to worship in places of their choice. In simpler terms, the verdict will pave way for the famed temple of Lord Ayyappa in Sabarimala, Kerala, to open its doors for women.
Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra read his judgment on behalf of himself and Justice AM Khanwilkar.
Ayyappa do not constitute separate religious denomination, the Chief Justice mentions in his judgment.
Exclusion of women of certain age in Sabarimala is not an “essential part” of religion, says the judgment. The judgment upholds women’s right to worship Lord Ayyappa in Sabarimala. With this, the centuries’ old practice of prohibiting menstruating women from the temple becomes unconstitutional.
“Exclusion on grounds of biological, physiological features like menstruation are unconstitutional and discriminatory,” the apex court declares.
Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and R. Nariman concur, while the lone woman judge in the Bench Justice Indu Malhotra dissents.
