Thiruvananthapuram: Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran said that the state government’s stance in the matters related to the customs in Sabarimala is always to seek opinion of Hindu scholars. The same stance was taken even when the women entry case was first filed in the Supreme Court, he said.
The minister made it clear that they are firm on the stand taken in 2007 and that Devaswom Board is supposed to take new stand on the review plea. He added that the government would not intervene in the board’s decision.
He explained that the government thinks a committee of Hindu scholars who have deep knowledge in the customs and rituals should be formed and their opinion should be considered while the Supreme Court takes a decision.
The minister stated in this regard as the Supreme Court formed a nine-member larger bench to settle the legal issues in the Sabarimala review pleas. Though the Devaswom board had earlier filed an affidavit opposing women entry in Sabarimala, later they changed the stand and supported women entry.