Transgender person moves Kerala High Court against denial of entry to Sabarimala
A transgender devotee has petitioned the Kerala High Court after being denied entry to the Sabarimala temple by police. The petitioner argues that there is no legal basis for such exclusion and seeks permission to complete her pilgrimage.
Why it matters
This case highlights ongoing legal and social tensions regarding gender-based access to religious sites in India.
A transgender person has moved the Kerala High Court against the denial of entry to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple, saying that it disrupted her religious pilgrimage. She contended that in the absence of any lawful restraint, no devotee should be arbitrarily denied entry at the temple.
A Division Bench of Justice P. Gopinath and Justice S. Manu sought responses from the State, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), and the Pathanamthitta District Collector in the petition filed by the devotee, Sathyashri Sharmila Rehemathali.
She contended that there were no valid statutory provisions, executive orders, or notified rules that authorised such exclusion, nor any informal restrictions enforced by the police or temple authorities on the entry of transgender persons.
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