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Draw up special law to run Sabarimala, says SC
Why in news?
- The Supreme Court on 20 Nov directed the Kerala government to draft a law exclusively covering the administration of the Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Swami Temple by the third week of January 2020.
More in news
- SC Dissatisfied with draft bill: The Travancore-Cochin Religious Institutions (Amendment) Bill of 2019 by the State Govt.
(1) It contains certain proposed amendments to the Travancore Cochin Religious Institutions Act of 1950.
(2) One-third reservation for women in the temple advisory committees:
(a) Court questioned over practicality of a proposed provision.
(b) Kerala panel counsel described it under Section 31A of the 1950 Act as part of the State’s ‘liberal’ push.
(c) But the Bench questioned about the prospect of actively involving women even as the question of admission of women aged between 10 and 50 years into the temple was itself sub judice in the Supreme Court.
(3) Kerala government assurance on August 27 to SC: “the State is considering enacting a separate legislation with regard to the administration of the Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Swami Temple.”
(4) But, instead of the new law, the State had turned up in court with some amendments in the old Act.
(5) Court said:
(a) a temple which receives lakhs of pilgrims should be governed by a separate Act.
(b) An exclusive law was imperative for the welfare of pilgrims and effective management of the famed temple.
Sources
The Hindu