Supreme Court questions Sabarimala Temple priest

The India — Supreme Court of India is currently hearing petitions concerning discrimination against women at religious places, specifically focusing on the Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple in Kerala. The nine-judge Constitution Bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, questioned the chief priest of the Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple on whether the Constitution should protect a believer who is not allowed to touch the deity. Senior advocate V. V. Giri, representing the temple's 'thantri', argued that the nature of ceremonies and rituals, including the concept of 'Naishtika Brahmachari' (perennial celibate) for the deity, forms an integral part of the religion and is an essential religious practice. Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah raised concerns about denying access based on birth or lineage, emphasizing that there should be no difference between creator and creation. This hearing follows a 2018 verdict that lifted the ban on women aged 10-50 entering the Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple, which was later referred to a larger bench in 2019.