The Kerala High Court appointed observers at Sabarimala Ayyappa temple have noted the special privileges extended to Bindhu Ammini and Kanaka Durga, the two women who entered the temple recently against widespread opposition.
The Kerala government had earlier informed the High Court that no special privileges were given to the duo in their forties to enter the temple.
Special privileges
According to an interim report submitted by the three-member committee of observers of the High Court, the two women were allowed to enter the temple on January 2 through the staff gate. Also, they were allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum from the front entrance near the flag post of the temple. Conventionally, pilgrims are not allowed entry through the staff gate or the front entrance, the observers pointed out.
Sources told DH that the police could cite security concerns for the special treatment of the two women devotees.
The committee of observers comprising retired High Court judges S Sirijagan and P R Raman and DGP-rank IPS officer A Hemachandran will submit its final report by next week as the current pilgrimage season ends on January 19.