Mumbai devotees laud SC's Sabarimala verdict

MUMBAI: The Ayyappa Seva Sanghams and Malayali devotees in the city welcomed the Supreme Court's decision on Thursday to refer to a seven-judge bench over 60 petitions seeking review of its 2018 judgment where it allowed women of all ages entry into Kerala's Sabarimala temple. The bench will also re-examine various religious issues, including the entry of women into mosques and the practice of female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra community.
"The 2018 SC judgment had hurt our religious sentiment. The act [two women had entered the temple] was done by some activists with vested interest," Shaji Pillai, president of the Shree Ayyappa Temple in Airoli told TOI. "We welcome the SC decision to refer the Sabarimala matter to a seven-judge panel. But proper study has to be done before giving any judgment to the ancient old tradition."
Pointing out that there is no clarity whether women can enter the shrine, which is scheduled to open for worship from November 17, a member of the Shree Ayyappa Seva Sangham, Kalyan (E), said: "It is too early to give a reaction to the SC decision...The 2018 judgment hurt . religious sentiments...Hardly any women will break tradition and enter the temple's premises."
K Raveedran, secretary of the Sangham in Malad, said the SC had observed "a lacuna in its earlier judgment...and therefore referred the matter to a seven-judge bench". "Now, the Kerala government should not give any statement...it should wait for the final verdict."
Welcoming the SC decision, Krishnankutty Nair, president of the Sangham in Ulhasnagar, said: "Today, the SC has given devotees hope that the final decision would be in our favour and not hurt religious sentiments."