Kerala HC hearing on denial of Sabarimala entry by transgender devotee
A transgender devotee approached the Kerala High Court challenging denial of entry to Sabarimala, arguing no lawful basis exists for exclusion. The court sought responses from the state, the Travancore Devaswom Board, and district authorities.
Key takeaways
- A transgender devotee filed a petition with the Kerala High Court against being barred from entering Sabarimala.
- The petition cites lack of statutory or formal orders authorizing the exclusion and notes previous pilgrimages to the temple in 2026.
- The court issued notices to the State, the Travancore Devaswom Board, and the Pathanamthitta District Collector for responses.
What Happened
A transgender devotee, Sathyashri Sharmila Rehemathali, filed a petition in the Kerala High Court challenging denial of entry to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. She argued that, in the absence of any lawful restraint, no devotee should be arbitrarily blocked from entering the temple. A Division Bench of Justices P. Gopinath and S. Manu issued notices to the State, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), and the Pathanamthitta District Collector for responses in the petition.
The petitioner asserted that there were no valid statutory provisions, executive orders, or notified rules authorizing such exclusion, nor informal restrictions enforced by police or temple authorities. She had previously filed representations with the TDB and the Chief Secretary over the issue.
According to the petition, the petitioner was stopped during a police check near the Pamba Ganapathy Temple on August 20 and informed that she would not be permitted to proceed to Sabarimala. Police officials allegedly told her that the TDB had instructed officers not to permit transgender persons from entering Sabarimala. The petitioner noted she had completed pilgrimages to the temple in January and April 2026. When she requested a written order or circular detailing the ban, the officers reportedly could not provide one to her as an individual. The petition seeks permission to visit the temple on Thiruvonam, August 26, as she continues her temple rituals, and asks for directions to the State to take action if officials discriminated against her under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
Why It Matters
The case centers on the balance between temple access and protections for transgender individuals under national law. If the court finds no lawful basis for restricting entry, it could set a precedent affecting how religious spaces implement participation rules for transgender devotees, potentially prompting policy and administrative reviews across similarly situated institutions.
Background
The petition references the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 as a framework the petitioner believes supports her challenge to exclusion. The matter involves the state, the Travancore Devaswom Board, and local police authorities, with the temple’s entry policies reportedly tied to ongoing legal proceedings at higher judicial levels (the Supreme Court is mentioned as having related proceedings in the context of the temple’s access rules).
Prior entries by the petitioner to Sabarimala are cited as January and April 2026 pilgrimages, suggesting a history of access earlier in the year before the August incident.
Key Facts
- A transgender devotee filed a petition in the Kerala High Court challenging denial of entry to Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple.
- Petitioner: Sathyashri Sharmila Rehemathali.
- Judicial panel: Division Bench of Justices P. Gopinath and S. Manu.
- Respondents requested: State, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), Pathanamthitta District Collector.
- Incident date: August 20, 2026, during a police check near Pamba Ganapathy Temple.
- Officers allegedly informed that TDB instructed police not to permit transgender persons to Sabarimala.
- Petitioner has previously completed pilgrimages to Sabarimala in January and April 2026.
- Petition seeks clearance for entry on Thiruvonam, August 26, and requests action if discrimination is found under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
- State and authorities argue the matter is linked to proceedings pending before the Supreme Court.
What Happens Next
The High Court requested responses from the State, the TDB, and the District Collector. No final ruling is included in the available report, and the case appears to be in a stage where the court is seeking official positions from the authorities involved.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
