This story is from January 10, 2020

Sabarimala row: TDB now pro-tradition, to file fresh petition

Though the board, which runs the temple, had initially taken a stand that women's entry should not be allowed, it had changed its stand during the tenure of A Padmakumar as president.
Sabarimala row: TDB now pro-tradition, to file fresh petition
Devotees at Sabarimala temple (File photo)
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With a nine-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court scheduled to hear review petitions on Sabarimala women’s entry verdict from January 13, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) plans to submit a fresh and detailed affidavit seeking protection of the traditions and beliefs at the temple. It had supported women's entry to the temple earlier.
The state had witnessed violent protests over the September 2018 judgment allowing all women to enter the temple and the ruling CPM had mellowed down its support to the verdict after reverses in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

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TDB president N Vasu said the board does not want to make the shrine a place of violence and it will soon
take an appropriate decision on filing an affidavit.
“The board is of the opinion that traditions and beliefs should be protected for ensuring a peaceful darshan at the temple,” he said.
TDB changed its initial stand
Though the board, which runs the temple, had initially taken a stand that women’s entry should not be allowed, it had changed its stand during the tenure of A Padmakumar as president.
Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran, meanwhile, said the state government had always stood for finalizing rituals-related matters in consultation with religious scholars. “There is no change in our stand. When the case had come up before the Supreme Court in 2007, the state government had taken this view. We will stick to the stand now,” he said.

The government had, in 2007 and 2016, submitted in the apex court that the opinion of religious scholars should be taken on rituals as it is a matter of belief. “A committee of religious scholars from the Hindu community should be formed to take a decision on this. The Supreme Court should finalize its verdict based on findings of this committee,” Surendran said. On TDB filing a fresh affidavit, he said: “It is for them to decide.”
A five-judge constitution bench of the apex court had, in a 3:2 majority verdict on November 14, 2019, referred pleas seeking review of its 2018 judgment to a larger seven-judge bench.
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