The public interest litigation that was filed to challenge the authorities of the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala on the restriction of entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50 years was heard by the Supreme Court today, and has been adjourned to 7^th November 2016. Justice C Nagappan and R Banumathi heard the case, and the court discussed whether it should be heard by a Constitution Bench, but decided that this would not be required.

The PIL argued that the ban violates women’s right to equality, while the Travancore Devaswom Board has been arguing that the deity is a Naisthik Brahmachari, a celibate, which is why there is a restriction on the entry of women. Kerala’s LDF coalition government continued to oppose the PIL.

You can read about other restrictions into places of worship here.