A day after the Supreme Court kept Sabarimala review petitions pending, the Kerala government on Friday took a firm stand that it will not be providing police protection to women between the ages of 10 and 50 who choose to visit the hill shrine this season, which begins on Saturday. This is a departure from the Kerala government’s stand in 2018, when every woman who attempted the Sabarimala climb after the SC’s verdict was accompanied by a police escort.

Minister for Devaswom Kadakampally Surendran told media that the women who are willing to go to Sabarimala should come approach court seeking police protection and come to the shrine with a court order on the same.

"Earlier too, the government has not sent any women to Sabarimala on its own and will not do so this time either,” Kadakampally said.

On two women entering the shrine in January this year, during the last pilgrim season, the minister said: “both the situations are different since at the time the Supreme Court had specifically issued a verdict allowing women’s entry into the temple.” The minister’s statement also comes after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the government is seeking more clarity into the Supreme Court judgment.

The Devaswom Minister reiterated the statement he made last year, that Sabarimala is not a place for “women activists to show off their activism.”

“Women like Tripti Desai (Maharashtra-based gender rights activist) declaring that they will go to Sabarimala just want to show their strength and same is the case of other women who make similar declarations. There are also some who want to make a political gain out of it,” he said.

Kerala Minister for Law AK Balan also said that the government will not give protection to any women to go to the shrine and there will not be any change on this until there is a final verdict.

Meanwhile, the government has reportedly received a legal opinion on the judgement advising the government not to entertain women’s entry until the Supreme Court issues a final rider in the case. Supreme Court lawyer Jayadeep Gupta has given the advice after the government approached him seeking further clarification on the judgment.

Also read: Can women still enter Sabarimala? What legal experts say

36 women register online for pilgrimage during Sabarimala season