We'd got up at our usual time of 6, went about our chores and were ready well in time. The walk and the prayers went off without any hitch.
The review pleas on the Sabarimala verdict of 28 Sep 18 were heard in the Supreme Court today. After hearing them, the court has reserved its judgement. It would be appropriate to visit the background of the case and here I go:-
The Impasse.
The Sabarimala is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, situated at the Sabarimala Hills in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. In the past, women devotees of menstruating age - between 10 and 50 yrs of age - were not permitted as pilgrims due to the celibate nature of the deity in the temple. A Kerala High Court judgement had legalised this interpretation in 1991. It was this practice that was upturned by the Supreme Court on 28 Sep '18 stating equality of the sexes assured by the Constitution!
Massive protests took place all over Kerala when the state government tried to enforce the verdict. Of course, its view was that the protests were perpetuated by the goons of the RSS and the BJP. Some time in between the Nov-Dec pilgrimage season, two women were dramatically whisked through the sanctum sanctorum without the mandatory packed offerings on their heads - through a gate exclusively meant for the staff without negotiating the mandatory 18 steps while being fully wrapped up in black sheets. This stealthy performance was carried out by the police and exposed the diabolic approach of the state government where it said something and did something different. At the end of the Sabarimala season, The Kerala Police had submitted a list of 51 women - later found to have names of men and many women who'd reached menopause in it - it's but natural that it had the blessings of the state government! Consequently, in the current session of the state's Legislative Assembly, the government has proclaimed that only two women had entered the temple.
The Parties That had Asked For A Review Of The Verdict.
The parties that have asked for a review of the verdict along with their advocates are as follows:-
* Nair Service Society(NSS) - K Parasaran.
* Tantri Kantharar Rajeevaru - V Giri.
* Prayar Gopalakrishnan - Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
* Kerala Government - Jaideep Gupta.
* Devaswom Board - Rakesh Dwivedi.
* Ms. Bindu, Kanakadurga - Indira Jaisingh.
Seven more days have been given by the Court for further reviews, for or against, to be given in writing.
Tailpiece.
1. My sister, Rema, had fetched up from Palakkad by teatime to accompany Lekha to Kochi tomorrow for her medical review. Meanwhile, Lekha's cough has gone up in intensity!
2. Vineesh, an ever smiling youngster, was sent by Sajid - our chauffeur - for tomorrow's trip to Kochi as he was attending to his brother-in-law who was seriously ill and admitted in the hospital. He was told to reach us by 0700 hrs.
The review pleas on the Sabarimala verdict of 28 Sep 18 were heard in the Supreme Court today. After hearing them, the court has reserved its judgement. It would be appropriate to visit the background of the case and here I go:-
The Impasse.
The Sabarimala is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, situated at the Sabarimala Hills in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. In the past, women devotees of menstruating age - between 10 and 50 yrs of age - were not permitted as pilgrims due to the celibate nature of the deity in the temple. A Kerala High Court judgement had legalised this interpretation in 1991. It was this practice that was upturned by the Supreme Court on 28 Sep '18 stating equality of the sexes assured by the Constitution!
Massive protests took place all over Kerala when the state government tried to enforce the verdict. Of course, its view was that the protests were perpetuated by the goons of the RSS and the BJP. Some time in between the Nov-Dec pilgrimage season, two women were dramatically whisked through the sanctum sanctorum without the mandatory packed offerings on their heads - through a gate exclusively meant for the staff without negotiating the mandatory 18 steps while being fully wrapped up in black sheets. This stealthy performance was carried out by the police and exposed the diabolic approach of the state government where it said something and did something different. At the end of the Sabarimala season, The Kerala Police had submitted a list of 51 women - later found to have names of men and many women who'd reached menopause in it - it's but natural that it had the blessings of the state government! Consequently, in the current session of the state's Legislative Assembly, the government has proclaimed that only two women had entered the temple.
The Parties That had Asked For A Review Of The Verdict.
The parties that have asked for a review of the verdict along with their advocates are as follows:-
* Nair Service Society(NSS) - K Parasaran.
* Tantri Kantharar Rajeevaru - V Giri.
* Prayar Gopalakrishnan - Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
* Kerala Government - Jaideep Gupta.
* Devaswom Board - Rakesh Dwivedi.
* Ms. Bindu, Kanakadurga - Indira Jaisingh.
Seven more days have been given by the Court for further reviews, for or against, to be given in writing.
Tailpiece.
1. My sister, Rema, had fetched up from Palakkad by teatime to accompany Lekha to Kochi tomorrow for her medical review. Meanwhile, Lekha's cough has gone up in intensity!
2. Vineesh, an ever smiling youngster, was sent by Sajid - our chauffeur - for tomorrow's trip to Kochi as he was attending to his brother-in-law who was seriously ill and admitted in the hospital. He was told to reach us by 0700 hrs.
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