The Supreme Court today questioned the age-old tradition of banning entry of women of menstrual age group in the historic Sabarimala temple in Kerala. The court said women cannot be denied entry into the temple as long as the Constitution permits it. The bench of Justices Dipak Misra and N V Ramana was hearing a PIL, filed by the Young Lawyers Association, seeking entry for women and girls in the temple.<br/><br/>It asked the government whether it was sure that women have not entered the temple premises in the last 1,500 years. The bench also observed that it was a public temple and everyone needed to have the right to access. It added that at best, there can be religious restrictions and not a general restriction.<br/><br/>Senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for Kerala, said the women, who have not attained menopause, cannot preserve the purity during the religious journey to the temple, located on a hilltop, which usually spans 41 days. The Supreme Court will hear the case again on February 8.<br/><br/>

The Supreme Court today questioned the age-old tradition of banning entry of women of menstrual age group in the historic Sabarimala temple in Kerala. The court said women cannot be denied entry into the temple as long as the Constitution permits it. The bench of Justices Dipak Misra and N V Ramana was hearing a PIL, filed by the Young Lawyers Association, seeking entry for women and girls in the temple. <br/><br/>It asked the government whether it was sure that women have not entered the temple premises in the last 1,500 years. The bench also observed that it was a public temple and everyone needed to have the right to access. It added that at best, there can be religious restrictions and not a general restriction.<br/><br/>Senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for Kerala, said the women, who have not attained menopause, cannot preserve the purity during the religious journey to the temple, located on a hilltop, which usually spans 41 days. The Supreme Court will hear the case again on February 8.