Against the backdrop of the  Supreme court’s decision to refer the Sabarimala case to a larger bench, the Lord Ayyappa shrine is all set to open on Saturday, even  as the Government said those women desirous of visiting the hill  temple should get a “court order. “

The top court has decided to set up a larger bench to re-examine religious issues including those arising out of its earlier verdict  that lifted a centuries-old ban on women of menstruating age visiting  the shrine.

 With the two-month long annual pilgrimage season set to commence  from November 17, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said Sabarimala  was not a place for activism and the LDF Government would not support  those who make announcements about entering the hill shrine for the  sake of publicity.

Dismissing reports that police would provide security to women  activists who attempt to enter the shrine, he said there was “some  confusion” over the latest Supreme Court order and women desirous  of visiting Sabarimala should get a “court order.”

Government would not encourage those women who want to visit  the shrine for publicity, he added.

The CPI(M) State secretariat, which met here, discussed the verdict and expressed a similar opinion.

“The common emotion of the secretariat was not to allow women to enter the temple till the apex court finalises the verdict. Those who want to enter the temple can approach the court and get a favourable judgment,” a source close to the CPI(M) State leadership told PTI.