New Delhi sources added argued senior advocate K Parasaran in the Supreme Court that as per the custom and long tradition, women in the age group of 10 to 50 are not allowed as manifestation of God in the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala is a celibate and the deity does not want the presence of women in this age group. Meanwhile Parasaran made this submission before a Constitution Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices Rohinton Nariman, AM Kanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra hearing a batch of petitions challenging the ban on entry of women in the age group of 10 to 50 in this temple.
Accordingly Parasaran, appearing for Nair Society, one of the interveners, said Sabarimala was a unique temple where other than Hindus, Christians, Muslims and even foreigners are allowed entry, but as per the custom and long tradition, women in the age of 10 to 50 are not allowed, as manifestation of God in this temple is a celibate.
Moreover he submitted that if the court was to
abolish the practice, the very character of the religious institution will be
irreparably altered which affects the rights of devotees under Article 25(1). Furthermore
he submitted that the present case does not involve a social issue but a
religious issue. Hence Parasaran said not only the perception of the worshiper
but also what is being worshiped is also important.
