The Supreme Court today ruled that praying is a constitutional right for women and does not depend on laws. The Court was hearing a number of petitions challenging the age old tradition of banning women between the age of 10 to 50 from entering Kerala’s Sabarimala Temple.
A five judge bench was set up to decide if the rights of women can be discriminated against by the temple that is managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board.
Justice D. Y. Chandrachud stated, “Every woman is also the creature of God and why should there be discrimination against them in employment and worship.” Chandrachud was among the five judge bench who presided over the case.
The restriction at the Sabarimala temple states that women between the age of 10 and 50 are not allowed to that the pilgrimage meaning they are not allowed to make the trek to the shrine. The temple authorities argue that the practice was founded by tradition and must not be broken.
