NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Kerala government on a petition challenging the provision by which the entry of women are barred at the Lord Ayappa temple at Sabarimala.

 A bench headed by Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal also issued notices to the Travancore Devaswom Board, Devaswom Commissioner, chief priest of the temple and the District Magistrate of Pathanamthitta on a petition filed by Young Lawyers Association seeking to ensure the entry of women between 10-50 years at the Sabarimala temple.

The petitioners have sought quashing of the provision of Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authority of Entry) Rules 1965 by which women are not allowed to enter the temple by any custom or use.