The State government is understood to have seriously gauged the possible fallout of its failure in implementing the September 28 Supreme Court verdict that put fundamental rights above faith and also the ramifications of inviting contempt of court proceedings before calibrating its views to be presented at an all-party meeting held here on Thursday to end the impasse over the Sabarimala judgment.
Sources privy to the developments told The Hindu that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had elicited the views of different sections, including legal experts, prior to the morning meeting. Left Democratic Front leaders, mainly CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and CPI State secretary Kanam Rajendran and Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, also had consultations to firm up their views to be presented at the meeting.
Mr.Vijayan made an extensive presentation at the meeting on what prompted the apex court to pass the verdict and the constitutional obligation of the government to abide by the court order in its letter and spirit.
He also pointed out that the government had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court that the State would implement its verdict, whatever it maybe, and the court’s reiteration that it had not stayed the September 28 verdict.
The government was also appraised of the political reality that if its failure in implementing the verdict amounted to contempt of court, it would be virtually playing into the hands of the Opposition which may raise a demand for ousting the government on that ground itself, sources said.
Same stance
Similarly, Mr.Vijayan’s observation that the United Democratic Front and the Bharatiya Janata Party shared the same stance on the entry of women to the temple would also trigger an intense political debate.
The UDF may have to give a convincing reply on how it sought to keep away from the BJP on the issue that is likely to have far-reaching social and political ramifications, sources said.
