State bound to implement SC's Sabarimala order: Kerala governor

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Outgoing Kerala governor P Sathasivam said the state government was legally and Constitutionally bound to implement the Supreme Court order granting entry for women of all ages to Sabarimala temple.
"The matter is now sub judice as review petitions are still pending before the Supreme Court. However, at that time, the state government, irrespective of which government (political party) was in power, was bound to implement the SC judgment," Sathasivam told reporters on the sidelines of a farewell accorded to him by the Raj Bhavan staff here on his last day in office.
Quizzed on whether it was proper for the Supreme Court to issue a judgment against "the faith of a particular community", the former Chief Justice of India said the aggrieved parties - individuals or political parties - were free to approach the Supreme Court for a review and to highlight that the court on certain aspects had exceeded the limit.
"But, as a governor, it may not be proper on my part to express my views on the verdict. I might be able to convey my views to legal correspondents at a later stage after my retirement," he said.
Sathasivam asserted that with his judicial background, he knew well the powers, functions and duties of a state governor. "While dealing with allegations and grievances, I assure aggrieved parties that I will seek remedial measures. But, you can't expect the governor to take any extreme step or intervention unless there's a serious and uncontrollable law and order situation and no proper action by the government," he pointed out.
Terming recent incidents surrounding the University College in state capital as "condemnable", Sathasivam said the state government, Kerala University and PSC took immediate and appropriate actions, including necessary investigations. "The law will have to take its own course," he said. Earlier, addressing the Raj Bhavan staff, Sathasivam said he was satisfied to have "accorded an equal treatment to all religious groups" while accepting programmes.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed governor Arif Mohammad Khan will reach the state capital on Thursday and will assume office on Friday.