Sabarimala row: Kerala government files new affidavit, calls for scholarly review of rituals

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Kerala government has filed a new 17-page affidavit in the Supreme Court addressing seven key constitutional questions regarding the entry of women into Sabarimala.

In the affidavit, the government asserts that if the Court finds it necessary to examine long-standing rituals at Sabarimala, such an inquiry should only proceed after detailed consultations with scholars and social reformers from the relevant community. The government maintains that a comprehensive study and public discussion are essential prerequisites to altering established rituals. Furthermore, it clarified that seeking the impartial counsel of scholars and reformers would better serve the administration of justice.

A nine-judge bench is currently presiding over seven fundamental questions concerning religious freedom and women's rights. While the hearing is scheduled to begin on April 7, the Court has emphasised that the mission of this larger bench is to resolve broader legal issues rather than deciding specific Sabarimala review petitions. The original challenge was brought by the Indian Young Lawyers Association, which continues to argue that the verdict permitting the entry of women must be upheld.

This shift in the government’s stance is widely seen as an effort by the Left Front to reconcile with believers ahead of the upcoming elections. This marks a departure from the government's position following the Supreme Court’s initial verdict on September 28, 2018. At that time, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan famously corrected then-Devaswom Board President A. Padmakumar for disagreeing with the ruling, and the administration actively championed women's entry through initiatives like the Navodhana Samithi and the Women's Wall(Vanitha Mathil).