United Democratic Front releases draft law for Sabarimala
- | Saturday | 6th February, 2021
The draft also says the violation of the entry ban will lead to an imprisonment which may extend to two years and will not be less than three months. Whoever abets or incites or promotes the commission of the offence under this act shall be punishable with same punishment, says the draft.
Congress and the UDF has set eyes on Sabarimala to bring them luck in the Assembly polls to wrest power from the LDF government.
The row over the entry for menstruating women to the hill shrine now looks certain to be back, with the Congress leaders coming out in support of making new law for Sabarimala if the UDF government comes into power.
Senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan MLA presented the draft of the proposed new Act for Sabarimala in a press conference on Saturday. He said that if the UDF government comes into power after the elections, the law will come into force at once. The UDF had earlier challenged the LDF government to prepare law to overcome the Supreme Court verdict on the Sabarimala issue.
Sensing trouble, LDF minister A K Balan had shot back asking the UDF to come out with a draft law of the new rule which they are planning to implement if elected to power. It is in this wake, Thiruvanchoor released the draft law which was prepared by Adv. T Asaf Ali, former director-general of prosecution who is also the state president of Indian Lawyers conference.
The draft law says that the new act will be called Sabarimala Ayyappa Devotees (protection of religious rituals, customs and usages) Act, 2021.
The draft law defines `Tantri` as the chief priest having absolute powers over rituals, custom and practices followed in Sabarimala temple. The draft also defines Ayyappa devotees which includes male devotees and female devotees called `Malikappurams` who are below 10 years and above 50 years of age. The Travancore Devaswom Board in consultation with Tantri shall impose a ban of unauthorised entry into the temple.
The draft also says the violation of the entry ban will lead to an imprisonment which may extend to two years and will not be less than three months. Whoever abets or incites or promotes the commission of the offence under this act shall be punishable with same punishment, says the draft.
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