Kerala government on Monday reiterated its stand stating that it will implement the Supreme Court verdict on the entry of women in Sabarimala temple.

This comes on the heels of a review petition filed by the National Ayyappa Devotees (Women’s) Association which challenged the earlier verdict of the apex court allowing the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said filing a review petition was against the stand. He said it was the responsibility of the government to implement the verdict of the Supreme Court.

Addressing a press conference, Vijayan said it was not the policy of the government to fight with believers.

However, the chief minister said the interest of the believers will be protected and that the government was ready for a discussion.

Vijayan also accused the RSS of disturbing the law and order in the state by taking advantage of the SC verdict.

The petitioner, president of the National Ayyappa Devotees Association said the verdict cannot be a match for the voice of the people.

“The petitioners believe that no legal luminary, not even the greatest of jurists or a judge, can be a match to the common sense and wisdom of the masses. No judicial pronouncement, even of the highest judicial tribunal in this country… can be a match for ‘the voice of the people’,” the petition read.

According to a Live Law report, Shylaja Vijayan, in her petition said the petitioners in the original case before the Supreme Court were not devotees of Lord Ayyappa and hence, there was no ‘cause of action’ at all in existence for invocation of the jurisdiction of the court.

She claimed that the judgment has sent “shock waves among millions of Ayyappa devotees”.

The chief priest of the Sabarimala temple and the Pandalam palace that is closely linked to the legend of the Sabarimala deity, have decided to skip the meeting called by the chief minister to discuss the 28 September Supreme Court verdict.

Hundreds of Ayyappa devotees, including women in various parts of Kerala have been protesting against the Supreme Court verdict.

Over 4000 women held protests in Kerala and demanded the Kerala government to file a review petition.

The protests gained momentum after the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government last week refused to file review petition against the Sabarimala temple verdict.

A rally ‘Ayyappa Nama Japa Yatra’ was held on Sunday at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar where the devotees protested against the top court ruling.

In a landmark judgement on September 28, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra lifted the ban on entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine.

The apex court in a 4:1 ruling, said women were equally entitled to enter and worship in the temple.

Prior to the verdict, girls below the age of 10 and women over 50 were only permitted to enter the shrine.