Sabrimala ban violates our rights: Women activists to SC

New Delhi: Challenging the age-old practice of banning women in the 10-50 years age group from entering the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala, a group of women rights activists on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that the practice violates fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution and must be done away with.
The activists, belonging to "Happy to Bleed" campaign, questioned how can a modern society continue with "menstrual discrimination" when the Indian Constitution mandates right to equality and health of women to achieve gender justice.Appearing before a bench of Justices Dipak Misra, V Gopala Gowda and Kurian Joseph, senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for the activists, contended that prohibiting girls and women from entering the temple was against the law and violative of Articles 14, 15, 25 and 51A of the Constitution.
"It is discrimination among Hindus and no classification on the basis of gender can be made for denying the right to visit the temple. Men draw power from women in society but women have become neo-harijans for being denied entry into the temple," she contended. She told the bench that the activists were confining their plea to get permission to visit the temple but would fight a legal battle for their right to touch the sanctum sanctorum. Agreeing with her contention, the bench said Hindu religion did not discriminate on the basis of gender and said the tradition followed at Sabrimala temple had to stand the Constitution test.