Kerala govt. ‘harassing’ women going to Sabarimala: petitioner
State acting in gross contempt of court, Supreme Court told
03/12/2019, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT, ,NEW DELHI
State acting in gross contempt of court, Supreme Court told
03/12/2019, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT, ,NEW DELHI
Bindu A. being attacked with pepper spray outside the office of the Police Commissioner in Kochi last week.PTI-
A woman alleged in the Supreme Court on Monday that the Kerala government was giving a “free hand” to unlawful elements to harass and attack women devotees between 10 and 50 years of age en route to the Sabarimala temple.
Bindu A. noted that the Supreme Court judgment of September 28, 2018 has not been stayed in review. By not allowing entry of women of all ages, the Kerala government was acting in gross contempt of court, she said.
Ms. Bindu, represented by advocate Prashant Padmanabhan and in a petition settled by senior advocate Indira Jaising, narrated her own experience, saying she was attacked and even confined in a hospital.
The police had refused to give her group, all women under the age of 50, any sort of protection. She was sprayed on the face with a chemical substance by a man, whom she had identified. Women like her were subjected to violence, which was not only physical but also psychological, she said.
Ms. Bindu urged the court to direct Kerala to ensure safe passage to women to the Sabarimala temple, regardless of their age or religion. “Direct immediate cessation of age verification and counselling done by the police officials at the behest of State of Kerala discouraging women of menstruating age from visiting Sabarimala and initiate appropriate proceedings against any State officials or private individuals who act in defiance of the orders of this court,” her plea said.
A woman alleged in the Supreme Court on Monday that the Kerala government was giving a “free hand” to unlawful elements to harass and attack women devotees between 10 and 50 years of age en route to the Sabarimala temple.
Bindu A. noted that the Supreme Court judgment of September 28, 2018 has not been stayed in review. By not allowing entry of women of all ages, the Kerala government was acting in gross contempt of court, she said.
Ms. Bindu, represented by advocate Prashant Padmanabhan and in a petition settled by senior advocate Indira Jaising, narrated her own experience, saying she was attacked and even confined in a hospital.
The police had refused to give her group, all women under the age of 50, any sort of protection. She was sprayed on the face with a chemical substance by a man, whom she had identified. Women like her were subjected to violence, which was not only physical but also psychological, she said.
Ms. Bindu urged the court to direct Kerala to ensure safe passage to women to the Sabarimala temple, regardless of their age or religion. “Direct immediate cessation of age verification and counselling done by the police officials at the behest of State of Kerala discouraging women of menstruating age from visiting Sabarimala and initiate appropriate proceedings against any State officials or private individuals who act in defiance of the orders of this court,” her plea said.
No comments:
Post a Comment