On Monday, the Travancore Devaswom Board, which is entrusted with managing the affairs of the Sabarimala hill shrine, approached the Supreme Court asking for more time to implement the September 28 verdict allowing women of all ages to enter the temple, reports the Times of India. As reported in the Economic Times, the Travancore Devaswom Board President had, on Friday at Pamba, told the media that the TDB would be approaching the SC, citing the law and order situation there as well as other practical difficulties.

Bar and Bench reports that the miscellaneous application was filed by advocate PS Sudheer. The application stated that in order for women to be able to conduct darshan at Sabarimala, restrooms, washrooms and bathrooms for women would have to be constructed at Sabarimala, Pamba and Nillakal. The application also pointed out the difficulty posed by the order that no permanent constructions were to be built on the banks of Pamba river after the recent flooding in August. 

Further, the application mentioned the acts of violence and numerous protests in and around the hill, sparked by the decision to allow women to enter the temple, and a few attempts by women to do the same. The application said that “certain people and political parties which has led to severe law and order problems in the State, particularly in and around the temple.” It further submitted that “unprecedented security and efforts of the State authorities have not discouraged the protestors from threatening and impeding the women devotees from paying obeisance at the Sabarimala temple,” and that proof of these protests and violent incidents had been documented and were in the public domain thanks to print and electronic media.