According to sources, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to implement the Supreme Court’s verdict allowing women entry inside the Sabarimala temple soon. He told officials of TDB at a meeting in Thiruvananthapuram “No delay is permissible” and however, TDB, which manages the shrine’s affairs, has sought some more time to put the directive into effect.
As per the report, TDB officials have sought more time to improve the facilities at the temple for woman devotees. Meanwhile, TDB president A Padmakumar said the board is expecting a 40% increase in pilgrim traffic once women devotees arrive at the Ayyappa temple. He said, “We asked for 100 acres of land for expansion of facilities and the Chief Minister has promised land at Nilakkal".
Furthermore, TDB said it will arrange toilets and shelters for women devotees at Sabarimala and Nilakkal. Moreover, Padmakumar added that there are practical challenges in setting up separate queues for women at the temple. Meanwhile, Ramesh Chennithala, the leader of Opposition, said the Devaswom Board should file a petition against the Supreme Court verdict. said, “The Supreme Court should also examine the social impact and the difficulties in applying these rules and the UDF government's stand was to respect the beliefs and practices of Sabarimala and to resume the restriction of women in Sabarimala"
