Can women enter Sabarimala temple? SC to decide today

New Delhi: The Supreme Court will on Friday pronounce its order on the ban on women's entry into Sabarimala temple in Kerala.

Earlier, in February, the apex court had reserved an order on referring the case to a constitution bench.

The top court has been hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the ban on entry of women into the Sabarimala hill temple.

The temple, situated in Pathanamthitta district, restricts women aged between 10 and 50 from taking the pilgrimage to Sabarimala temple.

In January 2016, the court had questioned the ban, saying this cannot be done under the Constitution.

Meanwhile, women's rights activists are hoping for a positive judgment in the case.

During a previous hearing related to the case, the apex court had said that the fundamental right of women to equality has to be balanced with the right of a group to profess and manage religious affairs before a decision can be taken regarding the ban on entry of women inside Kerala’s Sabarimala temple.

A bench led by Justice Dipak Misra said that restriction on women to enter a place solely on the basis of gender was indeed discriminatory and a violation of their right, but the Constitution had also given a right to ensure freedom to profess and propagate religious practices and to manage religious affairs.

“We will have to balance the rights before we say anything,” said the bench as it heard a PIL seeking that the ban on entry of women to Kerala’s historic temple should be immediately lifted.

The plea argues that the practice symbolises a social anathema based on gender discrimination.