THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government will seek legal opinion to get more clarity on the verdict passed by the Supreme Court on the Sabarimala issue on Thursday.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the previous verdict of a five-member bench allowing the entry of young women was still in force. “More clarity will be sought from legal luminaries,” Mr Pinarayi said.
Asked whether the government will provide security to women who wish to visit Sabarimala, he said all issues will be discussed after getting the legal opinion.
“The majority verdict of the five-member Cons-titution bench has come out. Two members dissented rejecting all review petitions. What-ever may be the verdict of the apex court, it will be accepted,” he said.
“The verdict of the previous five-member bench exists. The court will examine other issues as well,” he pointed out.
“These issues are related to gender equality which will be examined by a seven-member bench. It has to be seen whether the earlier verdict of the five- member bench will be re-examined by including the findings of the seven-member bench, or the entire verdict on Sabarimala will be examined by the larger bench. Earlier, when petitions were filed seeking a stay on the verdict, the SC had rejected them.
Even the majority verdict given by the five-member bench has not been changed. Therefore, the government requires more clarity,” he said.
“All legal aspects of the verdict have to be examined in detail. Whatever may be the verdict, the government will implement it,” he said.
Q. If young women go to Sabarimala for the pilgrim season beginning on Saturday, what will be the government stand?
The chief minister said there was still time and there will be some clarity soon.
Q: The BJP and the Congress are arguing that there is a stay for all practical purposes and that the government should not encourage young women to enter the temple?
Pinarayi: The government will accept the verdict. The implication of the verdict will have to be looked into in detail.
Q: The Mandala Mak-aravilakku season is beginning on Saturday. Some young women have registered online for darshan. If they go there, what will be the government’s stand ?
Pinarayi: We have not examined this issue yet. He also referred to the dissenting note of the two judges who said that those in power have the constitutional responsibility to enforce verdict strictly.
