Days after courting controversy over a list of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sabarimala-case-kerala-govt-says-51-women-have-entered-sabarimala-temple-191271">51 women who had entered the Sabarimala temple</a>, the Kerala government Monday said only two women of menstrual age had visited the shrine after a Supreme Court's judgement removed the bar on their entry.

In a written reply in the state assembly, the government also said the visit of a Sri Lankan woman in early January was yet to be confirmed.

Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, in response to an unstarred question, said two women had offered prayers at the Lord Ayyappa shrine according to the report of the temple executive officer.

He also said they were awaiting confirmation on whether Sasikala, the 47-year-old Sri Lankan woman whose visit was earlier confirmed by sources in the Chief Minister's Office and police, visited the hill shrine.

Surendran was replying to a question by opposition Congress legislators on how many women in the age group of 10-50 years had offered prayers at the temple after the September 28 apex court verdict.

The CPI(M)-led state government had filed an affidavit in the apex court on January 18, saying 51 young women had entered the temple during the recently concluded annual pilgrim season.

However, controversy erupted later as some women who were named in the list were above 50 years of age. Names of at least two men had also crept into the list.

In response to another question, Surendran said the authority to take a decision on matters related to the shrine's customs and traditions was not entrusted with the temple's 'tantri' (head priest) alone.

According to the Devaswom Manual, if any violation of traditional customs occurs, it is for the officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to hold talks with the head priest and take a final decision on atonement rituals, he added.

Last month, the head priest, Kandaru Rajeevaru, had closed the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine to perform a 'purification' ceremony after two women offered worship at the temple.

The TDB, the apex temple body in Kerala, has sought an explanation from him.

The annual pilgrimage season witnessed widespread protests from frenzied devotees and right-wing groups over the LDF government's decision to implement the Supreme Court's verdict, allowing women of all ages to enter the hilltop shrine.

During the season, over two dozen women devotees, some of whom were branded as activists, unsuccessfully attempted to trek the hill.

However, on January 2, two women, Kanakadurga (44) and Bindhu (42), offered prayers at the shrine, breaking a centuries-old tradition.

Before the Supreme Court's verdict, women in the age group of 10 to 50 years were not allowed to enter the temple as the presiding deity, Lord Ayyappa, is a "Naishtika Brahmachari" (perennial celibate).&nbsp;

Days after courting controversy over a list of 51 women who had entered the Sabarimala temple, the Kerala government Monday said only two women of menstrual age had visited the shrine after a Supreme Court's judgement removed the bar on their entry.

Days after courting controversy over a list of 51 women who had entered the Sabarimala temple, the Kerala government Monday said only two women of menstrual age had visited the shrine after a Supreme Court's judgement removed the bar on their entry. In a written reply in the state assembly, the government also said the visit of a Sri Lankan woman in early January was yet to be confirmed. Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, in response to an unstarred question, said two women had offered prayers at the Lord Ayyappa shrine according to the report of the temple executive officer. He also said they were awaiting confirmation on whether Sasikala, the 47-year-old Sri Lankan woman whose visit was earlier confirmed by sources in the Chief Minister's Office and police, visited the hill shrine. Surendran was replying to a question by opposition Congress legislators on how many women in the age group of 10-50 years had offered prayers at the temple after the September 28 apex court verdict. The CPI(M)-led state government had filed an affidavit in the apex court on January 18, saying 51 young women had entered the temple during the recently concluded annual pilgrim season. However, controversy erupted later as some women who were named in the list were above 50 years of age. Names of at least two men had also crept into the list. In response to another question, Surendran said the authority to take a decision on matters related to the shrine's customs and traditions was not entrusted with the temple's 'tantri' (head priest) alone. According to the Devaswom Manual, if any violation of traditional customs occurs, it is for the officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to hold talks with the head priest and take a final decision on atonement rituals, he added. Last month, the head priest, Kandaru Rajeevaru, had closed the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine to perform a 'purification' ceremony after two women offered worship at the temple. The TDB, the apex temple body in Kerala, has sought an explanation from him. The annual pilgrimage season witnessed widespread protests from frenzied devotees and right-wing groups over the LDF government's decision to implement the Supreme Court's verdict, allowing women of all ages to enter the hilltop shrine. During the season, over two dozen women devotees, some of whom were branded as activists, unsuccessfully attempted to trek the hill. However, on January 2, two women, Kanakadurga (44) and Bindhu (42), offered prayers at the shrine, breaking a centuries-old tradition. Before the Supreme Court's verdict, women in the age group of 10 to 50 years were not allowed to enter the temple as the presiding deity, Lord Ayyappa, is a "Naishtika Brahmachari" (perennial celibate).

Only 2 women visited Sabarimala: Kerala minister tells Assembly

The Supreme Court directed the Kerala Police on Friday to provide round-the-clock security to two women who had entered the Sabarimala temple.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices L N Rao and Dinesh Maheshwari said it was only going into the aspect of the security of the two women and would not like to entertain any other prayer made in the petition.

The bench also refused to tag the matter along with the pending petitions in the Sabarimala case.

It was hearing the petitions of 42-year-old Bindu, a college lecturer and CPI(ML) activist from Kozhikode district's Koyilandy, and Kanakadurga, 44, a civil supplies department employee from Angadipuram in Malappuram, who had entered the Sabarimala shrine on January 2.

"We deem it appropriate to entertain this writ petition by directing the Kerala Police to provide adequate security round the clock to petitioner number 1 (Bindu) and petitioner 2 (<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/kanaka-durga-one-of-the-women-who-entered-sabarimala-temple-allegedly-thrashed-by-mother-in-law-190500">Kanakdurga</a>). Beyond that we don't want to go into any of the issues mentioned in the petition," the bench said.

Senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, appearing for the Kerala government, said it was already providing adequate security to these women and other devotees who have entered the Sabarimala temple. He said till now 51 female devotees have entered the shrine.

Advocate Mathews J Nedumpara appearing for some petitioners, who have filed a review plea challenging the decision of the top court to allow women of all ages to enter the temple, said that none of the female devotees has entered the Sabarimala shrine.

The bench, however, refused to go into all these issues and said that if the Kerala government was already providing security to the female devotees without the court's order then there is no harm if the government continues providing adequate security even after the court's order.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for the women petitioners, said the court should direct tagging of the petitions with the pending matters on the Sabarimala temple issue.

To this, the bench said the prayer for tagging is rejected.

Earlier this month, the two women had stepped into the hallowed precincts guarded by the police, more than three months after the apex court's historic judgment lifting the ban on the entry of girls and women between 10 and 50 years of age into the shrine of Lord Ayyappa, its "eternally celibate" deity.

Following the entry of the women into the shrine, the chief priest had decided to close the sanctum sanctorum of the temple to perform the 'purification' ceremony.

The plea had sought round-the-clock security to both the women due to a threat to their life for entering into the hilltop shrine as one of the women was assaulted by her mother-in-law.

The plea had sought directions declaring all authorities not to conduct the rite of purification or to shut the temple on account of any woman of the age of 10-50 having entered the temple.

It had said that the purification ritual is representative of a cleansing ceremony, signifying the petitioners were impure, which is violative of their dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The petition also sought directions declaring that any form of prevention of women aged between 10 and 50 years from visiting the hilltop shrine is contrary to the September 28, 2018 judgment of the apex court.

On September 28 last year, a five-judge Constitution bench, headed by the then Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in a 4:1 verdict paved the way the for entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple, saying the ban amounted to gender discrimination.

The top court has said it may not start hearing pleas seeking a review of the Sabarimala verdict from January 22 as one of the judges was on medical leave.

Earlier, the apex court had decided to hear in open court the review petitions against the verdict. Besides Justice Indu Malhotra and the CJI, justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud are part of the five-judge constitution bench.

Justice Malhotra had delivered the dissenting judgment in the case.

There are around 48 petitions seeking review of the judgment and they were filed following violent protests in favour and against the verdict. PTI MNL&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Supreme Court directed the Kerala Police on Friday to provide round-the-clock security to two women who had entered the Sabarimala temple. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices L N Rao and Dinesh Maheshwari said it was only going into the aspect of the security of the two women and would not like to entertain any other prayer made in the petition.

The Supreme Court directed the Kerala Police on Friday to provide round-the-clock security to two women who had entered the Sabarimala temple. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices L N Rao and Dinesh Maheshwari said it was only going into the aspect of the security of the two women and would not like to entertain any other prayer made in the petition. The bench also refused to tag the matter along with the pending petitions in the Sabarimala case. It was hearing the petitions of 42-year-old Bindu, a college lecturer and CPI(ML) activist from Kozhikode district's Koyilandy, and Kanakadurga, 44, a civil supplies department employee from Angadipuram in Malappuram, who had entered the Sabarimala shrine on January 2. "We deem it appropriate to entertain this writ petition by directing the Kerala Police to provide adequate security round the clock to petitioner number 1 (Bindu) and petitioner 2 (Kanakdurga). Beyond that we don't want to go into any of the issues mentioned in the petition," the bench said. Senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, appearing for the Kerala government, said it was already providing adequate security to these women and other devotees who have entered the Sabarimala temple. He said till now 51 female devotees have entered the shrine. Advocate Mathews J Nedumpara appearing for some petitioners, who have filed a review plea challenging the decision of the top court to allow women of all ages to enter the temple, said that none of the female devotees has entered the Sabarimala shrine. The bench, however, refused to go into all these issues and said that if the Kerala government was already providing security to the female devotees without the court's order then there is no harm if the government continues providing adequate security even after the court's order. Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for the women petitioners, said the court should direct tagging of the petitions with the pending matters on the Sabarimala temple issue. To this, the bench said the prayer for tagging is rejected. Earlier this month, the two women had stepped into the hallowed precincts guarded by the police, more than three months after the apex court's historic judgment lifting the ban on the entry of girls and women between 10 and 50 years of age into the shrine of Lord Ayyappa, its "eternally celibate" deity. Following the entry of the women into the shrine, the chief priest had decided to close the sanctum sanctorum of the temple to perform the 'purification' ceremony. The plea had sought round-the-clock security to both the women due to a threat to their life for entering into the hilltop shrine as one of the women was assaulted by her mother-in-law. The plea had sought directions declaring all authorities not to conduct the rite of purification or to shut the temple on account of any woman of the age of 10-50 having entered the temple. It had said that the purification ritual is representative of a cleansing ceremony, signifying the petitioners were impure, which is violative of their dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution. The petition also sought directions declaring that any form of prevention of women aged between 10 and 50 years from visiting the hilltop shrine is contrary to the September 28, 2018 judgment of the apex court. On September 28 last year, a five-judge Constitution bench, headed by the then Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in a 4:1 verdict paved the way the for entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple, saying the ban amounted to gender discrimination. The top court has said it may not start hearing pleas seeking a review of the Sabarimala verdict from January 22 as one of the judges was on medical leave. Earlier, the apex court had decided to hear in open court the review petitions against the verdict. Besides Justice Indu Malhotra and the CJI, justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud are part of the five-judge constitution bench. Justice Malhotra had delivered the dissenting judgment in the case. There are around 48 petitions seeking review of the judgment and they were filed following violent protests in favour and against the verdict. PTI MNL

Give round-the-clock security to 2 women who entered Sabarimala: Supreme Court to Kerala police

Kanaka Durga, one of the two women <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sabarimala-kerala-cm-confirms-entry-of-2-women-tdp-board-denies-temple-shut-for-purification-187821">who had entered Sabarimala temple earlier this month</a>, has alleged that she was thrashed by her mother-in-law for defying the ban. &nbsp;

Durga, 39, a civil servant, suffered injuries to her head and had to be hospitalised, police said.

She claims she was attacked only minutes after she returned home. She had before that spent a month at undisclosed locations fearing attacks by conservative Hindu groups, news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;

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Kerala: Kanaka Durga, who had entered Sabarimala temple earlier this month, has complained to Perinthalmanna police alleging that she has been thrashed by her mother-in-law. Case has been registered.
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"We received a complaint from Kanaka Durga alleging that she was attacked by family members of her husband when she returned home after entering the temple," said Jaya Mani, the officer in charge of Perinthalmanna police station in Malappuram district.

Bindu, a college lecturer and CPI(ML) activist from Kozhikode district's Koyilandy, and Durga, a civil supplies employee from Angadipuram in Malappuram, had come to Sabarimala on December 24 after 11 women activists of a Chennai-based outfit were prevented from reaching the shrine and chased away by devotees chanting Ayyappa mantras.

The temple was opened on December 30 for the Makaravillaku festival and there has been a heavy rush of pilgrims.

According to reports, the women trekked to the hill shrine on January 2. They offered their prayers at 3:45 am.

The incident was confirmed by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Speaking to media CM Vijayan said, "Today, two women entered Sabarimala temple. We had issued standing orders to police to provide all possible protection to any woman who wants to enter the temple."

(With inputs from agencies)

Kanaka Durga, one of the two women who had entered Sabarimala temple earlier this month, has alleged that she was thrashed by her mother-in-law for defying the ban.

Kanaka Durga, one of the two women who had entered Sabarimala temple earlier this month, has alleged that she was thrashed by her mother-in-law for defying the ban. Durga, 39, a civil servant, suffered injuries to her head and had to be hospitalised, police said. She claims she was attacked only minutes after she returned home. She had before that spent a month at undisclosed locations fearing attacks by conservative Hindu groups, news agency Reuters reported. Kerala: Kanaka Durga, who had entered Sabarimala temple earlier this month, has complained to Perinthalmanna police alleging that she has been thrashed by her mother-in-law. Case has been registered. — ANI (@ANI) January 15, 2019 × "We received a complaint from Kanaka Durga alleging that she was attacked by family members of her husband when she returned home after entering the temple," said Jaya Mani, the officer in charge of Perinthalmanna police station in Malappuram district. Bindu, a college lecturer and CPI(ML) activist from Kozhikode district's Koyilandy, and Durga, a civil supplies employee from Angadipuram in Malappuram, had come to Sabarimala on December 24 after 11 women activists of a Chennai-based outfit were prevented from reaching the shrine and chased away by devotees chanting Ayyappa mantras. The temple was opened on December 30 for the Makaravillaku festival and there has been a heavy rush of pilgrims. According to reports, the women trekked to the hill shrine on January 2. They offered their prayers at 3:45 am. The incident was confirmed by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Speaking to media CM Vijayan said, "Today, two women entered Sabarimala temple. We had issued standing orders to police to provide all possible protection to any woman who wants to enter the temple." (With inputs from agencies)

One of 2 women who entered Sabarimala temple allegedly thrashed by mother-in-law, hospitalised

Conservative Hindu groups including youth members of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party returned to the Sabarimala temple on Thursday <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gates-of-sabarimala-open-women-are-not-allowed-to-enter-171993">to block women from entering for </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gates-of-sabarimala-open-women-are-not-allowed-to-enter-171993">a second</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gates-of-sabarimala-open-women-are-not-allowed-to-enter-171993"> day</a>, in defiance of a court ruling that says banning them is illegal.

For centuries, the Sabarimala temple in Kerala has banned women and girls between the ages of 10 and 50 from entering the holy site. But last month, the Supreme Court ruled the ban infringed on the right to worship.

Since then, the case has become a focal point for women's rights in India.

There were clashes between police and protesters when the temple opened for the first time since the ban was lifted on Wednesday, preventing women from entering.

Kerala's secular state government says it wants to uphold the court's decision, but Hindu groups, including branches of the BJP and its parent organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, say the court's decision is offensive to worshippers.

"A large number of women, who follow the tradition, were not heard; their emotions weren't respected," RSS leader Mohan Bhagwat told a rally of supporters on Thursday.

In response, the state's chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a tweet that the RSS and other Hindu groups "are obstructing believers and spreading terror".

LAW FLOUTED

The temple is located in a remote tiger reserve in the western Ghats mountain range. Many visitors trek through the mountains to get to the temple.

Kerala's police department has imposed an emergency law until midnight on Friday preventing groups of four or more people from gathering within 30 km (19 miles) of the temple.

A police official, who declined to be identified, said seven members of a youth wing of the BJP were arrested on Thursday after disguising themselves as worshippers and staging a sit-in at Nilakkal, about 18 km (11 miles) from the temple and the main entry point to the site.

On Thursday, a female reporter from the New York Times was pelted with stones while trying to visit the temple. The journalist, Suhasini Raj, abandoned her trip under police protection, footage from Reuters partner ANI showed.

Conservative Hindu groups including youth members of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party returned to the Sabarimala temple on Thursday to block women from entering for a second day, in defiance of a court ruling that says banning them is illegal.

Conservative Hindu groups including youth members of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party returned to the Sabarimala temple on Thursday to block women from entering for a second day, in defiance of a court ruling that says banning them is illegal. For centuries, the Sabarimala temple in Kerala has banned women and girls between the ages of 10 and 50 from entering the holy site. But last month, the Supreme Court ruled the ban infringed on the right to worship. Since then, the case has become a focal point for women's rights in India. There were clashes between police and protesters when the temple opened for the first time since the ban was lifted on Wednesday, preventing women from entering. Kerala's secular state government says it wants to uphold the court's decision, but Hindu groups, including branches of the BJP and its parent organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, say the court's decision is offensive to worshippers. "A large number of women, who follow the tradition, were not heard; their emotions weren't respected," RSS leader Mohan Bhagwat told a rally of supporters on Thursday. In response, the state's chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a tweet that the RSS and other Hindu groups "are obstructing believers and spreading terror". LAW FLOUTED The temple is located in a remote tiger reserve in the western Ghats mountain range. Many visitors trek through the mountains to get to the temple. Kerala's police department has imposed an emergency law until midnight on Friday preventing groups of four or more people from gathering within 30 km (19 miles) of the temple. A police official, who declined to be identified, said seven members of a youth wing of the BJP were arrested on Thursday after disguising themselves as worshippers and staging a sit-in at Nilakkal, about 18 km (11 miles) from the temple and the main entry point to the site. On Thursday, a female reporter from the New York Times was pelted with stones while trying to visit the temple. The journalist, Suhasini Raj, abandoned her trip under police protection, footage from Reuters partner ANI showed.

Women stopped from entering Kerala's Sabarimala temple for second day in a row

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Only 2 women visited Sabarimala: Kerala minister tells Assembly

Give round-the-clock security to 2 women who entered Sabarimala: Supreme Court to Kerala police

One of 2 women who entered Sabarimala temple allegedly thrashed by mother-in-law, hospitalised

Women stopped from entering Kerala's Sabarimala temple for second day in a row