13 Nov 2018 | 02:03 PM UTC
India: Supreme Court agrees to review controversial temple verdict /update 2
The Supreme Court agrees on November 13 to review the controversial Sabarimala Temple verdict; further protests likely as temple reopens November 16
Event
The Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday, November 13, to review the verdict it had previously delivered allowing women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala state; the decision had sparked waves of unrest in October. However, the next hearing will not take place until January 22, 2019.
The temple, which is only open certain days in the year, is set to reopen on Friday, November 16, through December 27, for the Mandala Pooja Mahotsavam Hindu festival. Local gatherings by civil society groups and political parties can be expected to take place in the vicinity of the temple, along with a heightened security presence.
Context
On September 28, the Supreme Court ruled that women of all ages were allowed to enter the Sabarimala Temple, overturning a 1991 ruling by the Kerala High Court that forbade women over the age of ten and below of age of 50 from entering the temple.
Advice
Individuals in India, especially in Kerala, are advised to monitor the situation, avoid public gatherings, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities.
