You have been recently posted as Superintendent of Police of a district which has a famous temple. Shortly thereafter you found that there is considerable tension in your district on the issue of allowing entry of women in the temple. The women were trying to break the allegedly 400-year-old tradition of the temple, which banned women from entering its inner sanctum. Recently a 350-strong group of women was stopped by the temple administration from entering the temple. This led to a scuffle wherein few women participating in the protest were manhandled. There is a pressure on you from local politicians who want you to prevent any such forced entry as elections are approaching. (a) Do you think there is a dichotomy between progressive values guaranteed to women by the Constitution and regressive traditions which continue in the garb of religion? How can this dichotomy be resolved? (b) How would you manage the law and order situation created by the forced entry? (c) How would you manage and mould patriarchal attitude of the temple administrators and male elders to ensure harmony.

(a) Dichotomy between progressive values like equality, human rights, gender justice and regressive traditions of banning entry to women, subordination and patriarchal attitudes towards women.

These regressive traditions are not in consonance with constitutional values of the country.

Resolution :- Therefore should be adoption of modern progressive values by overcoming traditional regressive values in the garb of religion.

It is a long drawn battle to conquer attitudes. Eradication of sati, sanctioned by religion is the example of how tough it is fight these prejudices.

(b) Managing law and order situation (i) Bring two parties i.e. women group and temple administration into negotiation (ii) try to establish calmness, negotiations in place of forceful entry, scuffles. (iii) The temple administration Also politicians have vested interests in preventing entry, local administration may also harbour these prejudices - unilateral decision of allowing women on the basis of Article 14, 15 of constitution might be practically pragmatic. (iv) If temple administration is not adamant in allowing women, since it is the conflict between traditional religious beliefs under Article 25, 26 (religious freedom) and Article 14, 15 of equality of Indian constitution.

• Resolution through a Apex court litigation on the constitutionality of the religious traditions, is the way forward
• It will also compel politicians, local administration, temple administration to act in accordance with the order of the court.

(C) Patriarchal Attitude change for long term harmony (i) countering the beliefs of male superiority, prejudices held against women through • awareness campaigns via Television Ads, radio programs on modern women, how progressive and equal to their counter part • promote role models like P.V-sindhu, Chanda Kochar. (ii) Examples of how religious across the world are moving progressively, removing long held prejudices e.g- catholics are increasingly adopting abortions (iii) Through education, promote gender equality among youth who are the future society