Kochi: The state government informed the High Court on Friday that two days can be reserved exclusively for the pilgrimage of women devotees at Sabarimala. The state attorney submitted the proposal when a petition filed by a group of women seeking protection for visiting Sabarimala came up before the court. The government made the suggestion even as the petitioners sought devoting three days exclusively for women devotees.
The court, however, wondered whether the proposal would be practical. It observed that while women have the constitutional right to enter the temple, the security should also be given importance. It asked the government to submit the details of the security measures that could be provided for women in the age group of 10-50 for undertaking the pilgrimage. Although the government has sought 10 days for the same, the court granted only seven days.
The four women approached the court for security citing the organized and forcible attempts to prevent women from proceeding to the hill shrine.
The petitioners pointed out that under the prevailing circumstances, women cannot proceed to the temple without police protection.
Women in the age group of 10-50 have not so far made any attempt to enter Sabarimala during the ongoing Manadala-Makara- vilakku season. Four women who had booked for the same decided not to go ahead due to the prevailing security situation. Though they conducted a news conference on the matter, the residence of one of them was attacked by miscreants.
