Women entry in Sabarimala: SC to consider case even if complainant withdraws plea
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday said that it would go ahead with the case even if the complainant withdraws his plea against the ban on entry of women in Sabarimala temple.
The apex court made the remarks taking note of the reported threat to the life of the lawyer who filed the plea.
Naushad Ahmed Khan, the lawyer, has sought police protection claiming threat to his life.
He told the court that he received over 500 threat calls for taking up the case. The court has agreed to hear his petition on Monday.
Naushad, President of Indian Young Lawyers Association, is one of the two lawyers who had filed a plea in the Supreme Court in 2006 against the ban.
On January 11, the apex court had questioned the ban on the entry of women of menstrual age group at the Lord Ayyappa temple. The court observed that practice of banning entry of women and girls was not supported by the constitutional scheme. The apex court had also directed the state government to file an affidavit in the case.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had made it clear that it would not interfere in the customs and traditions Sabarimala temple where entry of women in the age group of 10 to 50 is banned.
