Thiruvananthapuram • The Kerala government is not opposed to allowing women into Sabarimala temple, where women in the 10-50 age group are barred by tradition, State Devaswom Minister G Sudhakaran said today.

If a categorical question was put to the government on the issue, the government would say that it was not opposed to allowing women to the temple, Sudhakaran told reporters here when his comment was sought on the Supreme Court notice to the state government and Devaswom Board in a related case. He said the LDF was against discrimination on gender basis and stood for equality for all.

He, however, said the government was keen to keep off controversies concerning the Sabarimala temple. However, the government would clarify its position if a specific question was put to it, he added. The apex court had issued notice to the Kerala government yesterday on a petition challenging the provision, by which the entry of women are barred at the Ayappa temple at Sabarimala.

Kandararu Maheswararu, senior member of the Tantri family, which holds the present term for performing pujas in the temple, said there were certain reasons for restrictions on allowing women entering the Sabarimala shrine. “This tradition has been followed for centuries and this should not be changed,” Maheswararu said adding, “Those making pilgrimage have traditionally practised 41 days of personal austerity, called Vrata.”

Echoing similar sentiments, VHP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan said each temple was based on certain concepts. The Ayyappa temple was based on vrata sankalpa, which a women could not be able to adhere to. Sabarimala temple has been in the thick of a controversy after Kannada actress Jayamala claimed recently that she, in her prime of youth, not only visited the temple but even entered the sanctum sanctorum.

The question of bar on women’s entry came into sharp focus following Jaimala’s revelation with some of the women organisations objecting to the restrictions.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court sought a response from the Kerala government on a petition challenging the age-old ban on women entering Ayappa temple at Sabrimala. A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal, Justice S H Kapadia and Justice C K Thakker issued notices to the state government, Travancore Devaswom Board, Devaswom Commissioner, Chief Thanthri of Sabrimala Temple and District Magistrate of Pathanamthitta on a petition seeking to ensure the entry of women devotees between 10-50 years in the hill temple.

The PIL filed by the members Indian Young Lawyers’ Association has sought quashing of rule 3 (b) of the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Rules, 1965 by which women are not allowed to enter the temple premises by any custom or use.

Association's counsel Ravi Prakash Gupta contended that the custom restricting entry of women was violative of their constitutional rights, including the right equality guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution.

The PIL submitted that the denial of entry to women in temple was based on certain ill-conceived customs or usage.