TDB to file affidavit in SC to protect Sabarimala tradition in women entry issue
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Thiruvananthapuram: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on Monday said it will file an affidavit in the Supreme Court to preserve existing traditions when the apex court considers petitions related to the entry of women of menstruating age at the Sabarimala hill shrine.
TDB president K Jayakumar said the board discussed the matter in a meeting held here and decided to maintain the current practice, which restricts the entry of women of menstruating age into the Lord Ayyappa temple. “The board has no difference of opinion on this. The TDB is constituted under rules that mandate the protection of the temple and its traditions. We will contest the Supreme Court’s decision regarding women’s entry,” he said at a press briefing.
He added that the board’s stance is to ensure that existing traditions at Sabarimala continue. “The matter must be informed to the Supreme Court before March 14. We have appointed the concerned officials to submit the affidavit, and a resolution in this regard was passed during the board meeting,” Jayakumar said.
Clarifying its position on the 2018 verdict that allowed women of menstrual age into the temple, Jayakumar said the TDB does not support the decision. However, he added that whether the judgment should be reviewed is not under the board’s jurisdiction. “The advice we received was to take a board resolution and file an affidavit in court. The Devaswom has only one stand – traditions must be protected and followed,” he said.
When asked if the CPI(M)-led state government shared the same stance, Jayakumar said enquiries on this should be directed to the government. He noted that the TDB’s earlier position had been consistent, and the board had not taken any other view. “Whether a review of the court decision is needed does not fall under our purview. We can only present our stance when a review is considered,” he said. Regarding reports that the TDB’s counsel opposed reviewing the 2018 verdict, Jayakumar said that might have reflected the counsel’s personal view, but the board’s official policy remains the protection of temple traditions.
The Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment had permitted the entry of women of menstruating age into the Sabarimala temple. The review petitions are currently under consideration, and the court has asked the aggrieved parties, including the state government, to state their stand before March 14.
In addition to the affidavit, Jayakumar announced several reforms for the temple. A festival office will begin operations at Pampa on April 14, Vishu day, and board meetings will be held there. A detailed Sabarimala budget covering revenue and expenditure will be prepared to curb unnecessary spending, identify revenue leakages, and ensure proper auditing.
A modern tendering system for commercial spaces will be introduced with clear guidelines on cleanliness, electrical safety, and employee health. Scientific waste-disposal systems will be implemented, and protocols will be developed in consultation with experts. Sponsorship guidelines will also be reviewed; contributions will be accepted only according to the temple’s requirements, with no intermediaries involved. These measures follow the controversial Sabarimala gold loss case, in which the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty, had volunteered to replate gold artefacts.
Pilgrim accommodation will be streamlined. Rooms currently occupied improperly will be reclaimed and renovated for allotment through a housekeeping agency. Announcements during the pilgrimage season will be made in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam, with multilingual kiosks supporting devotees. To strengthen engagement with devotees in other states, the TDB plans to launch a 24-page monthly magazine in Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, English, and Tamil.
The board has also decided to limit the number of daily-wage workers during the pilgrimage season, with no appointments in sensitive areas.
With PTI inputs