The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) which manages administration of the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple is set to submit a status report in the Supreme Court on the situation in Sabarimala in the wake of the apex court’s judgement allowing women of all ages entry to the temple.
TDB president A Padmakumar, however, did not confirm commitment to file a review petition against the judgement.
“The TDB is already party in 25 review petitions filed by others,” he said. Earlier The Supreme Court refused to take up review petition on urgent basics .
Padmakumar said the Board planned to consult senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi on follow-up procedures regarding the judgement.
He was speaking with reporters after a board meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. The board according to insiders remained clueless how to unknot the legal implications
On October 16, a meeting called by the Board with members of the erstwhile royal family of Pandalam and the tantri (head priest) family had failed to resolve issues regarding implementation of the judgement.
The members of the two families had demanded a commitment from the Board on filing a review plea.
Late in the evening, the Pathanamthitta district administration extended the imposition of prohibitory orders till October 22 in seven areas – Elavunkal, Nilakkal, Pampa, sannidhanam, Plapally, Thulappally and Laha.
Section 144 of the CrPC was initially imposed only in Elavunkal, Nilakkal, Pampa and the sannidhanam till Friday night.
State Police Chief Loknath Behera briefed Governor P Sathasivam about the situation in Sabarimala.
The Governor had sought information about the law and order situation in and around the shrine in the wake of protests by devotees.
According to a Raj Bhavan statement, Behera explained that the situation was under control.
He said the police were providing protection to “genuine visitors” who wanted to worship at the temple but feelings of the devotees present there were also being considered.
