Transgender person moves Kerala High Court against denial of entry to Sabarimala

A transgender individual has petitioned the Kerala High Court to challenge the refusal of entry to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. In her complaint, the petitioner, Sathyashri Sharmila Rehemathali, argued that her religious pilgrimage was interrupted by the denial of access. She maintained that there were no lawful restrictions preventing her from entering the temple and questioned why any devotee should be arbitrarily denied entry.

A two-judge bench, comprising Justice P. Gopinath and Justice S. Manu, issued requests for responses from the State government, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), and the Pathanamthitta District Collector regarding the petition filed by Ms. Rehemathali. The petitioner contended that there were no valid statutory provisions, executive orders, or notified rules that justified this exclusion.

She had also submitted representations to the TDB and Chief Secretary regarding her concerns. However, the TDB argued that they were unable to intervene in the matter of women's entry to the temple, as it was currently pending before the Supreme Court. According to the petition, she was denied entry at the Sabarimala temple on August 20 during a police inspection.

The Pamba police station informed her that the TDB had instructed the police not to permit transgender individuals to enter the temple. Ms. Rehemathali stated that she had previously completed two pilgrimages to the temple in January and April 2026. When she asked the officers to provide a written order or circular authorizing the ban on transgender persons, the police allegedly refused, stating that such documentation was not permissible to be shown to her.

The petition sought permission for her to visit the temple on Thiruvonam, August 26, as she continued her ritualistic fast according to temple rituals. Additionally, it requested the State to take appropriate action if officials were found to have discriminated against her, violating the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of 2019.