The Travancore Devaswom Board on Thursday said menstruating women are not allowed inside the temple because of the nature of the deity. The argument came a day after the Supreme Court said that woman, just like men, have right to enter the Sabarimala temple and pray in Kerala. 

Senior apex court lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi was representing Travancore Devaswom Board in the top court and he said the nature and history of the deity “ are such that women in menstruating age are not allowed inside”.

He said that Sabarimala’s practice is “related to the celibate form of the deity who is Naishtika Brahmachari”, as reported by DNA. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra is hearing the case of the ban on the entry of women in the famous Sabarimala temple in Kerala.

The women ageing between 10-50 is not allowed to enter and pray in the temple. On Wednesday, the bench observed, “Can a religious practice run contrary to the constitutional mandate? When a man can enter, a woman can also go. What applies to a man, applies to a woman also.”

The court observed that all persons are entitled to freedom of conscience and the right to freely practice religion. Justice Chandrachud said, “This means your right as a woman to pray is not dependent on a legislation. It is your constitutional right.” The hearing on the matter will continue on July 24.