Sabarimala entry row: Kerala government backs Devaswom Board’s stand on transgender pilgrim
The Kerala government has informed the High Court that it supports the Travancore Devaswom Board’s position on the entry of a transgender woman from Tamil Nadu to the Sabarimala temple.
In an affidavit submitted before the court, the state government said permission for darshan could not be granted without appropriate medical or official documentation establishing the petitioner’s gender identity.
The case concerns Sathyashri Sharmila Rehemathali, who has approached the High Court seeking permission for transgender persons to undertake the Sabarimala pilgrimage after completing the prescribed religious rituals.
The petitioner identifies as a transgender woman and has stated that she is a devoted follower of Lord Ayyappa. According to the affidavit, she had previously visited the temple and performed darshan on January 3 and April 15 this year.
However, during another pilgrimage attempt on August 20, she was stopped near the Pamba Ganapathi temple following routine police verification. Officials reportedly informed her about the requirements governing entry to the shrine.
The Travancore Devaswom Board has maintained that it does not possess the authority or expertise to determine a person’s biological or physical characteristics for the purpose of establishing gender identity.
The Board told the court that it could not permit entry without a conclusive medical examination and certification from a legally authorised medical institution. It also expressed concerns about possible violations of the temple’s established customs if entry was allowed without such verification.
The state government has now stated that it does not intend to adopt a different position from the Board at this stage. The affidavit further noted that the broader issue remains connected to proceedings pending before the Supreme Court. The High Court will consider the petitioner’s request in the context of the legal and administrative positions presented by the parties.