Sabarimala Temple Case: Heavy Security Deployment In Kerala Ahead Of SC Verdict On Thursday

The top court will deliver its judgement on as many as 65 petitions, including 56 review petitions and four fresh writ petitions and five transfer pleas, which were filed after its previous verdict sparked violent protests in Kerala.

The police have classified the two month long season into four segments. (Image PTI)

Thiruvananthapuram: With less than 24 hours left for the Supreme Court to pronounce the final verdict on of women of all age groups in Kerala’s Sabarimala Temple, the state police has made extensive security arrangements for the temple town to ensure peace as the two-month long festival kicks off on Sunday. According to reports, the top court will deliver its judgement on as many as 65 petitions, including 56 review petitions and four fresh writ petitions and five transfer pleas, which were filed after its previous verdict sparked violent protests in Kerala. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had reserved its decision on February 6 after hearing various parties including those seeking re-consideration of the September 28, 2018 judgement. Other members of the bench are Justices RF Nariman, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra. Kerala police do not want to take any chances this time, particularly in the wake of the large scale protest and violence that occurred last year following the apex court verdict allowing all women to enter the temple. Right wing groups had stood guard, chased women, preventing them from entering into the temple. The police have classified the two month long season into four segments with the first two weeks starting on November 15 to November 29 and in all 2,551 police personnel would be posted in and around the temple complex, news agency IANS reported. The second phase would see 2,539 personnel and would be on duty from November 30 to December 14, and the third one beginning December 15 to 29 and would see 2,992 officials on duty. The fourth and the most important period begins from December 30 till the close of the temple, would see 3,077 personnel trying their best to see that the verdict was adhered to in letter and spirit. The entire security arrangements is led by additional director general of police Sheikh Darwesh Sahib. The duty roster will see 24 SPs and ASPs, 112 deputy SPs, 264 Inspectors, 1185 SIs and ASIs, 8,402 civil police officials manning the security arrangements. The list also includes 307 women personnel including 30 women inspectors and SI's. The apex court, by a majority verdict of 4:1, on September 28, 2018, had lifted the ban that prevented women and girls between the age of 10 and 50 from entering the famous Ayyappa shrine in Kerala and had held that this centuries-old Hindu religious practice was illegal and unconstitutional. The five-judge constitution had heard the pleas in an open court and reserved its decision after hearing the parties, including Nair Service Society, Thantry of the temple, The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and the state government, in favour and against the review plea. Some right-wing activists have alleged that the Board changed its stand before the court under pressure from the state’s CPI(M)-led LDF government. The Kerala government, which had taken conflicting stands on women’s entry into the hilltop shrine, supported the verdict and urged the court to trash review pleas.