The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Kerala government to provide adequate security to the two women — Kanakadurga and Bindu Ammini — who had made history by entering Sabarimala temple on 2 January.
The apex court was hearing a plea by the two women seeking 24X7 security after they entered the Sabarimala temple.
In the plea, Kanakadurga, who had reportedly been attacked by her mother-in-law following her entry into the hilltop shrine, had sought security for both the women.
The plea sought directions to all authorities to allow women of all age groups to enter the temple without any hindrance and to ensure security and safe passage, including police security to women wishing to enter the temple in future. It also pointed to danger to her life and liberty.
“Issue writ of mandamus directing authorities to provide full security, 24x7, to the two women who have entered the temple, and to deal with protesters indulging in acts of violence, physical and/or verbal on social media or otherwise against them in accordance with the law,” the petition said.
It sought directions declaring all authorities not to conduct the rite of purification or to shut the temple on account of any woman of the age of 10-50 having entered the temple.
On 28 September last year, a five-judge Constitution bench, headed by then Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in a 4:1 verdict paved the way for entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple, saying the ban amounted to gender discrimination.
The verdict triggered state-wide protests in Kerala.
(With PTI inputs)