Controversy over Sabarimala Temple entry returns to spotlight

KOCHI: The debate over women's right to enterSabarimala temple has made a comeback with the Kerala high court staying the government sanction for prosecuting astrologerParappanangadi Unnikrishnan, the first accused in the case also related to actress Jayamala who has been accused of touching Lord Ayyappa, thereby violating the custom of the hill shrine that no fertile woman should visit the temple.
Jayamala, the third accused in the case, revealed in 2006 that she had touched Lord Ayappa's idol in April 1987, when she was 27. The idol is inside the temple situated on a hilltop accessible only by foot. According to the temple custom, women in the age group of 10 to 50 are not allowed to enter the shrine.
The ritual, 'Ashtamangala Devaprashnam' (ascertaining the lord's will), conducted to establish the truth had revealed that a female had defied the temple by gaining entry into the sanctum sanctorum. The ritual was conducted by astrologer Unnikrishnan, following which Jayamala divulged that she had been puhed into the 'sreekovil' during the rush hour.
The results of the ritual were not accepted by chief priest Kantararu Maheswaru, the father of the erstwhile chief priest Kantararu Mohanaru. In July 2006, Mohanaru was photographed along with a woman previously booked for immoral traffic in a compromising position in a flat owned by Sobha John, who has been charged with running prostitution rackets in several cases.On Thursday, Justice NK Balakrishnan stayed the home department order allowing prosecution of the astrologer after the counsel for the accused had pointed out that a division bench of the court had earlier found that the final report submitted by the police had, in fact, been done after the limitation period and that the court could not take cognizance of the matter after such a delay.
The counsel challenged the prosecution sanction granted by the state government and argued that Jayamala's visit was not illegal as the law of the temple had allowed entry of women until 1991.The counsel also pointed out that the state government hadn't passed any legislation prohibiting the entry of women to Sabarimala. The ban on entry was continuing on the basis of an earlier court order, he said.
In addition to Jayamala and the astrologer, her Bangalore-based aide, Reghupathy, is also an accused in the case. The final report of the government-appointed crime branch team that probed the case had stated that the revelation about the actress' entry into the temple was part of a conspiracy hatched by the astrologer and Reghupathy. The report further said that the actress, the astrologer, and the aide were involved in a deliberate and malicious attempt to outrage religious sentiments, which is punishable under section 295 of the Indian Penal Code with three years of imprisonment.