Kerala Government Changes Stance on Sabarimala Temple Entry

The government of Kerala, led by the Left Democratic Front (LDF), has made a surprising decision regarding women’s entry into the famous Sabarimala Temple in India. The government is now agreeing with long-standing religious customs and traditions that prohibit women below the age of 50 from entering the temple. This change comes after previously supporting unrestricted access to women in 2018.

The decision was made at a special cabinet meeting on March 13, where the government endorsed the Travancore Devaswom Board’s (TDB) resolution to protect Sabarimala’s traditional practices. The government will file an affidavit with the Supreme Court by March 14, responding to questions about constitutional and legal aspects that are not directly related to women’s entry.

This move comes as review petitions against the 2018 verdict, which allowed women of all ages, are set for hearings starting April 7 before a three-judge bench. The BJP leader, Kummanam Rajasekharan, has criticized the government’s decision, claiming it is an attempt to gain political advantage in the next election.

The CPI(M) state secretary, MV Govindan, however, emphasized that the party maintains its core position, seeking expert input and considering believers’ feelings while balancing faith with rights. He denied any ideological reversal, citing the party’s history of respecting customs through expert input.