'Caste and class discrimination unacceptable'; Devaswom Board rejects NSS stance on Sabarimala women's entry

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Travancore Devaswom Board rejected the arguments raised by the Nair Service Society in the Supreme Court regarding the entry of women into Sabarimala. The board opposed the NSS's argument that it is up to the members of that particular religious community to decide who can be allowed into temples. Senior advocate Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Devaswom Board, submitted a crucial eight-page memorandum before the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court.

The Devaswom Board made it clear that it does not accept any restrictions based on caste or class in public temples. The Devaswom Board emphasised that discrimination based on caste and class is unacceptable. Similarly, the board made it clear that those entering temples are responsible for following the customs of the place. In the Sabarimala issue, the Devaswom Board brought up the issue of Lord Ayyappa’s celibacy, saying that the ban on the entry of women is necessary and should not be changed.

Last Thursday, senior advocate C.S. Vaidyanathan, appearing for the NSS, raised the controversial argument in the court. In the argument, it was said that the final decision on women entry into temples belonging to a particular community should be taken by that community. However, Justice B. V. Nagaratna, who was on the Constitution Bench at that time, disagreed with this argument. And now, the Devaswom Board also expressed its disagreement with NSS statement today.