The Kerala High Court on Monday (August 24) issued notice before admission on a plea preferred by a transgender person seeking to visit Sabarimala temple.

The plea was moved before the vacation bench of Justice Gopinath P. and Justice S. Manu.

The government pleader took notice on behalf of the State and the District Collector. Standing counsel took notice on behalf of the Travancore Devaswom Board. Notice by speed post was ordered to the Sabarimala thantri. The case is posted to September 3 for further consideration.

As per the plea, the petitioner, who is a Hindu and identifies to be a transgender, had arrived at Pamba on August 20 to undertake the pilgrimage to Sabarimala temple. However, she was stopped by the police near the Pamba Ganapathi Temple and was informed that she would not be permitted to go up the hill to Sabarimala.

Though the petitioner told that she is a transgender person and showed her identity documents, she was told that the Travancore Devaswom Board had allegedly instructed the police not to permit transgender persons to proceed to Sabarimala. She had requested the written circular/directions issued by the Board but her request was declined. Aggrieved, she has approached the High Court.

"If there exists any valid official order or notification prohibiting transgender devotees from undertaking the pilgrimage to Sabarimala, the same ought to be published transparently by way of a proper written order. Conversely, in the absence of any lawful statutory restraint, no devotee can be arbitrarily denied access or prevented from offering prayers at the shrine merely on the grounds of gender identity," states her plea.

In her plea, it is further stated that she had observed the 41-day-long Mandala Vratham preceding the pilgrimage to the holy shrine and worn the sacred mala (necklace). Moreover, even prior to and following her gender transition, the petitioner has been a regular pilgrim of Sabarimala. She had even visited the holy shrine on 3rd January and 15th April this year when she was permitted to complete her pilgrimage and have darshan of Lord Ayyapa, it is stated.

The petitioner had sought to visit the temple on Thiruvonam day (August 26) but the Bench has not passed any orders permitting the same as the issue of entry of women into the temple is presently under consideration by a 9-Judge Bench of the Apex Court.

In addition to afore relief, the petitioner has prayed for a direction to the State to publish the order, if any, that restricts the entry of transgender persons. The plea also seeks a direction to the State to to take appropriate action in case of violation of Section 3(e) of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act. The provision prohibits transgenders from being denied access to, or unfair treatment in, public places and religious institutions.

The petition is moved by Advocates Padma Lakshmi and Aleena Dileepkumar.

Case No: WP(C) 29771/2026