The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has decided to oppose the entry of women of menstruating age into the Sabarimala Temple, marking a significant shift in its stand on the contentious issue.
Announcing the decision, TDB President K Jayakumar told media the board would file a fresh affidavit before the Supreme Court of India on March 14, as directed by the court. The matter is scheduled to be heard by a nine-judge Constitution Bench, which has asked all concerned parties to clearly state their positions.
Jayakumar stated that the board now supports restricting the entry of young women in line with long-standing temple traditions. He added that any final decision on temple rituals should be taken only after detailed consultations with the temple’s traditional head priests and the devotee community.
The decision represents a sharp departure from the board’s earlier stance. In 2018 and 2019, following the Supreme Court’s verdict permitting women of all age groups to enter Sabarimala, the TDB had filed an affidavit supporting the judgment. The ruling had sparked widespread protests across Kerala and became a major political issue.
Earlier affidavits filed during the governments of VS Achuthanandan in 2007 and Pinarayi Vijayan in 2017 had attempted to balance constitutional rights with religious customs. However, after internal deliberations, the board has now taken a firm stand in favour of preserving tradition.
Though the Kerala government is not required to submit a separate affidavit, the TDB’s revised position is being viewed as politically significant.
Minister VN Vasavan and Saji Vherian have recently indicated that matters of faith should be protected. Former RDB President PS Prasanth had also expressed similar views earlier.
Political observers suggest that the move comes ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. The ruling CPI(M) had faced setbacks in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, with analysts attributing part of the backlash to the Sabarimala issue. Following that defeat, the party leadership under late secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan initiated outreach efforts to reconnect with sections of the believer community.
At present, authorities have not facilitated further entry of women, even though there is no formal stay on the original Supreme Court verdict. They are awaiting the outcome of the final review by the Constitution Bench.
Also read: Sabrimala women entry: SC bench to begin hearing on April 7
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