Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 16: The Supreme Court’s consideration of review petitions in the Sabarimala women’s entry case has once again placed the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left government in a policy dilemma, with political observers closely watching whether it will retain its earlier pro-entry stance or recalibrate ahead of upcoming elections.

The controversy revives memories of 2019, when the Left Democratic Front (LDF) strongly backed the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all age groups to enter the Sabarimala Temple. The government had then championed “Navodhanam” (renaissance) as its ideological plank and provided police protection to women attempting to enter the shrine.

It had also organised the ‘Women’s Wall’ — a statewide human chain campaign — claiming participation of around 50 lakh women in support of gender equality and temple entry.

With the review petitions now before the apex court, speculation is rife on whether the state government will maintain its affidavit supporting entry or soften its stand.

Leader of Opposition V. D. Satheesan demanded clarity, stating that a United Democratic Front (UDF)-led government would withdraw the affidavit filed in favour of women’s entry.

State Law Minister P. Rajeeve said the government would announce its stand at the appropriate time and accused the opposition of raising the issue to create confusion among the public.

Meanwhile, G. Sukumaran Nair, general secretary of the Nair Service Society (NSS) and a petitioner in the case, indicated that the government may soften its position. He said he expected the government to “correct its affidavit” and suggested that, in practice, the state had already refrained from facilitating women’s entry in recent years.

In New Delhi, the Supreme Court is set to consider 67 review petitions challenging its 2018 verdict permitting entry of women of all age groups into Sabarimala. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant will examine key constitutional questions concerning equality, freedom of religion and essential religious practices.

The court is expected to issue directions for constituting a new nine-judge bench to decide larger constitutional issues. The earlier nine-judge bench formed in 2019 has effectively lapsed, with all but Justice Surya Kant having retired.

Apart from Sabarimala, the larger bench is also expected to examine broader questions relating to women’s religious rights in Muslim and Parsi communities and the scope of judicial intervention in matters of faith.

While the Kerala government may not be required to spell out its position during the present hearing, it is likely to face pressure to clarify its stand once the new nine-judge bench begins proceedings — potentially bringing the sensitive issue back into sharp political focus ahead of elections.