Citing lack of facilities at the temple, the Sabarimala administrator has moved the Supreme Court seeking more time to implement the 28 September verdict allowing women of childbearing age access to the temple sanctum, reports Mathrubhumi.

In its application, the board says it is ‘duty bound’ to implement the judgment in ‘letter and spirit’, but is facing certain practical difficulties in that regard. It has also said that the judgment has evoked strong responses from certain people and political parties and has led to severe law and order problems in the state and in areas around the temple.

The decision comes amidst staunch protests against the communist government’s haste in implementing the decision. Since the verdict, no woman has entered the temple, and those who ventured to do so were stopped due to protests.

A Kerala High Court bench had earlier reprimanded the police for acting against the devotees and warned of strict action against erring officials. They also reminded the government not to implement the verdict with an iron fist.

On 17 November, the police had registered cases against 200 people for protesting at the Cochin Airport, and invoked Indian Penal Code sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting) 341 (wrongful restraint) and 506 (1) (criminal intimidation) against them.

However, three young women are reported to have expressed their intention to visit the temple in a ‘friendly atmosphere’. A few women, including activist Trupti Desai, had earlier made futile efforts to go to Sabarimala.