Women in salwar kameez banned inside Padmanabhaswamy temple

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Thursday stayed Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple administration's decision of allowing women wearing salwar kameez instead of dhoti/mundu or sari inside the temple premises.

Earlier on November 30, the temple's executive officer, KN Satheesh, had quashed the law, which only allowed women wearing a dhoti draped over their clothing or a sari, inside the temple.

Hearing numerous petitions against the decision, the HC said that the executive officer doesn't possess the authority to change religious customs and retailed the earlier dress code.

The court further stated that the final decision on the dress code inside the Padmanabhaswamy Temple would be of the chief priest. Satheesh, on being contacted, said that he accepted the court's decision.

The temple authority had changed the dress code last week after a woman advocate more the high court terming it a discriminatory law.

The petitioner, Riya Raje, stressed that customs and traditions require "decent clothing" in places of worship, instead of a particular kind of dress. Raje, however, didn't look happy with HC's decision as she has claimed to move Supreme Court over the issue.