Pandalam Royal Family Critiques Kerala's Position on Sabarimala Entry Dispute
Pandalam family member criticises Kerala for stance in Sabarimala entry dispute
The Hindu
Image: The Hindu
A senior member of the Pandalam royal family criticized the Kerala government during a Supreme Court hearing for not defending traditional beliefs regarding the Sabarimala temple against petitions from non-believers. The family, linked to the deity Lord Ayyappa, highlighted the state's previous resistance to inquiries into temple rituals.
- 01The Pandalam royal family is traditionally associated with the Sabarimala temple.
- 02K. Radhakrishnan represented the royal family in the Supreme Court.
- 03The Kerala government has been criticized for its lack of support for traditional beliefs.
- 04The case involves petitions challenging the temple's age-old rituals.
- 05The Supreme Court hearing is presided over by Chief Justice Surya Kant.
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During a Supreme Court session on April 23, 2026, K. Radhakrishnan, a senior advocate representing a member of the Pandalam royal family, criticized the Kerala government for its passive stance on petitions challenging the traditional beliefs surrounding the Sabarimala temple. The royal family, historically linked to Lord Ayyappa, the temple's deity, expressed disappointment that the state did not take a stronger position against the petitions filed by non-believers questioning the temple's rituals. Radhakrishnan recalled that the Kerala government had previously resisted calls for an inquiry into the Makaravilakku, indicating a history of defending the temple's practices. The Supreme Court's nine-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, is reviewing the matter, which has significant implications for the intersection of faith and legal scrutiny in India.
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The outcome of this case could affect the legal standing of traditional practices at the Sabarimala temple and influence the balance between faith and secular law in India.
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