Kochi: The Kerala High Court has sought the response of the state government and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on a petition filed by a transgender woman alleging that police prevented her from proceeding for darshan at Sabarimala. The petitioner, 48-year-old Sathyasree Sharmila Rahmathali from Tamil Nadu, approached the court. The court directed that notice be issued without admitting the petition.

Sathyasree, a devotee, alleged that she observed the required religious vows and reached Pampa, but was stopped by the police because she is transgender.

She was stopped near the Pampa Ganapathy Temple on August 20. She alleged that the police cited instructions from the Travancore Devaswom Board that transgender persons should not be allowed to climb the hill.

The petition also states that she had visited Sabarimala in the past and that preventing her from proceeding this time was discriminatory.

She was allegedly sent back after being asked to produce a medical certificate from Tamil Nadu. Sathyasree also alleged that her irumudikettu was forcibly taken from her, causing her severe mental distress.

The case will be considered on September 3.