Plea Before Kerala HC Seeks Regulation Of Entry Of Non-Hindu/Non-Idol-Worshipping Persons To Sabarimala [Read Petition]

“Atleast persons having declared positions against Idol worship need to be kept away from entering Sannidhanam.”

A writ petition has been filed before the High Court of Kerala seeking to regulate entry of non-Hindu and non-idol worshipers into the shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala.

The writ petition is posted on Monday ‘for instructions’ along with those filed by some women devotees seeking police protection.

According to TG Mohandas, a lawyer, the Supreme Court had only permitted entry of Hindu women, that too for worship at Sabarimala. He contended that only Rule 3(b) has been invalidated and other provisions are still in force.

“The persons who were escorted to Sabrimala by the police included non-Hindus and with disorderly behavior who fall within the purview of Rule 3(d). Thus on the pretext of implementing Hon’ble Supreme Court Judgement, the Respondents are flouting the very purpose of Constitutional Bench judgment bringing parity with Hindu devotees, men and woman. They are also flouting the Rules in force till now,” he said in the writ petition.

He also contended that efforts by the state police is not to facilitate entry of Hindu- woman for worship but to prove some points to their credit and to hurt the religious sentiments of devotees of Ayyappa. Screenshots of social media posts of some women who tried to enter the shrine have been produced as exhibits.

“In various big temples, the administration had framed rules and schemes for permitting entry of non-Hindu but having faith in idol worship. The Somanath temple in Gujarat and Thirupathi temple, in Andhra Pradesh etc. permits non-Hindus by birth to enter into temples by signing a declaration in the register kept by the administration. Thus all the major temples had framed regulations to restrain non-idol worshippers from entering into the temple. Atleast persons having declared positions against Idol worship need to be kept away from entering Sannidhanam. Now the situation has so developed that the people who are agitating against women entry became de-facto protectors of the Supreme Court judgment and the law enforcing agencies strangely seen as violators of the Judgment,” the petition read.

Following are the relief sought in the writ petition:

• To declare that permitting entry of non-Hindu and non-idol worshipers into the sannidhanam of Lord Ayyappa is violative of Rule 3 framed under Kerala Places of Public Worship (Authorization of Entry) Act, 1965 Act and the dictum laid down by the Honourable Supreme Court in 2018 (4) KLT 373.


• To issue a Writ of Mandamus or other appropriate writs, order or direction commanding the Respondents to regulate entry of devotees, both men and woman in terms of Rule 3 framed under Kerala Places of Public Worship (Authorization of Entry) Act, 1965 Act.


• To issue a Writ of Mandamus or other appropriate writ, order or direction commanding the Respondents to conduct an independent investigation into the police actions permitting non-Hindu women and non-idol worshipers in violation of Rules and Hon’ble Supreme Court judgment into Sabarimala Temple and appropriate proceedings may be directed to be initiated against those found guilty.