SC orders entry of women of all age into Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerela

The Supreme Court on Friday opened the gates of the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala dedicated to Lord Ayyappa to the women in the age group of 10-50, saying it was violative of their fundamental rights and constitutional guarantees.

In a majority judgment, Justice Indu Malhotra, the only woman judge in the five-judge bench, gave a dissenting judgment.

Chief Justice Dipak Misra reading out the judgment also on behalf of Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, said that subversion of women's rights under the garb of the physiological phenomenon cannot be allowed.

"All devotees are equal and there cannot be any discrimination on the basis of gender," Misra said.