New Delhi, April 9 -- The Union government on Thursday, April 9, defended the restriction on the entry of women of menstruating age into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, as it also listed the temples where men are barred. It also mentioned the Supreme Court's 2018 judgement, that had lifted the ban on entry of women, was based on the assumption that men are superior and women are on a "lower pedestal".

The Centre had appeared before the nine-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court which was hearing petitions related to the discrimination women suffer at religious places such as Sabarimala temple. The hearing was chaired by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant.

The other judges who attended the hearing were Justices B V Nagarath...