After hearing several petitions challenging the entry of women in Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala, the Supreme Court on Wednesday announced that a temple is a public property and if a man is allowed to enter the public property, then a woman should also be allowed to enter the same. Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said, "There is no principle of private temple in the country. Temple is not a private property, it is a public property. In such a case, if a person is allowed to enter the public property, then the woman should also be allowed to enter. Once you open the temple, then anyone can go to it." He added, "How can restriction on women of certain age group be covered by the ground of untouchability?"

After hearing several petitions challenging the entry of women in Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala, the Supreme Court on Wednesday announced that a temple is a public property and if a man is allowed to enter the public property, then a woman should also be allowed to enter the same. Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said, "There is no principle of private temple in the country. Temple is not a private property, it is a public property. In such a case, if a person is allowed to enter the public property, then the woman should also be allowed to enter. Once you open the temple, then anyone can go to it." He added, "How can restriction on women of certain age group be covered by the ground of untouchability?"