Shivangi Prakash-
Published on: 19 August, 2021 at 11:10 IST
Kerala High Court allowed a minor girl to accompany her father to the Sabarimala temple.
The order was issued in response to a petition filed by the nine-year-old, who requested permission to accompany her father to the hill shrine’s sanctum sanctorum. On August 23, the father and his daughter will pay a visit to the temple.
After hearing a case filed by a girl from Pattathanam in Kollam through Nirmal V Nair, a Division Bench comprising Justice Shaji P Chaly and Justice A Badharudeen issued an interim order.
During the hearing, lawyers representing the girl stated that she desired to visit Sabarimala before turning ten years old. The lawyers then stated that she may not be permitted to visit the shrine for another four decades as females between 10-50 years of age are not allowed to visit the Temple.
“We are of the considered opinion that an interim order can be issued permitting the petitioner to accompany her father to Sabarimala for darshan on August 23”, the High Court reportedly said after hearing the matter.
Before the child was born, her parents vowed that they would take her to Sabarimala at least once. By the end of June, she will be ten years old.
Women aged 10 to 50 are barred from attending the temple, despite a 2018 Supreme Court judgment lifting the ban, which is currently being reviewed by a larger Bench.
As a result, Nanditha’s parents had no choice but to take her to the temple before June. However, due to the limits implemented as a result of Covid-19, pilgrims under the age of 10 are no longer permitted to see the temple.
The family filed a complaint with the Kerala High Court, which ordered that the kid be permitted to have darshan with her parents.
For the annual Niraputhari festival, the Sabrimala temple opened its doors to pilgrims on August 15.
Due to the Covid-19 regulations, only 15,000 worshippers are permitted to see the Lord in one day. By August 23 evening, the shrine will be closed after the monthly pujas have been completed.
Since the Supreme Court overturned a statute prohibiting women aged 10 to 50 from attending the temple in 2018, the temple has been embroiled in controversy.
The order provoked widespread protests across the State, with devotees rushing to the streets to protest the decision.
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