The  Supreme Court on Wednesday began hearing the review petition against its September 29 landmark judgement that allowed women of all age groups  entry into the Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala.

Senior Advocate K Parasaran, appearing for the Nair Service Society opened the arguments before the five member bench headed by the Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.

Parasaran argued that according to Article 15 of the Constitution, it is not right to open the temples as public places. According to it, it is wrong to change the rituals of the temple. The customs cannot be equated to untouchability. It is only a religious custom, argued Parasaran in the court. Meantime, senior advocate Rohington Nariman has opposed this argument.

The Supreme Court will consider all pleas on women entry in Sabarimala. The apex court will consider review pleas, writ pleas and the plea of the devaswom board. There are around 65 petitions seeking review of the judgment. The court had earlier informed that they would hear only the review pleas today.

–India Legal Bureau