BSNL orders compulsory retirement of employee-woman activist who tried to enter Ayyappa temple

Kochi, May 14 () State-run telecommunications company,BSNL, has ordered compulsory retirement of its employee andactivist Rehana Fathima, who had attempted to enter the LordAyyappa temple at Sabarimala, for her "intentional" act ofoutraging the religious feelings of devotees through socialmedia posts. Fathima, a Telecom technician with the BSNL, wassuspended from service following her arrest in November 2018for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through herFacebook posts.

Condemning the decision, the activist said she wouldchallenge the compulsory retirement order issued to her by thecompany at the appropriate forum.

Talking to reporters, she alleged politicalintervention behind the decision.

In its order issued to Fathima, the company said ittook the decision after conducting an internal inquiry on herconduct. The company said there were many agitations againstentry of women into the temple during the Sabarimalapilgrimage season in 2018 and during this period, Fathima A S,"being a woman BSNL employee conducted herself in a mannerthat had resulted in a criminal case being filed against herand her subsequent arrest."

"An official working in BSNL is always expected toconduct in the best interests of BSNL.

Hence, such acts on the part of Fathima A S aresubversive of discipline and amount to misconduct," thecompany said in its order issued to Fathima.

"I find that the acts on the part of Fathimawere intentional and not accidental," Deputy General Manager(Tax/ITA and Urban) said in the order.

The activist was arrested in Pathanamthitta in2018 on a complaint that some of her Facebook posts hurtreligious sentiments.

Considering the protest against her by devoteesof Lord Ayyappa and BJP activists, the BSNL had earliertransferred her to the Palarivattom telephone exchange in thecity where public contact is not required.

A controversy had erupted in Kerala afterFathima made an attempt to enter the Sabarimala temple when itwas opened for monthly puja in October, 2018 following theSupreme Court order allowing entry of women in the age groupof 10-50.

Fathima, who was also part of the 'Kiss of Love'movement in Kochi in 2014 against alleged moral policing, wasamong the two women who had reached the hilltop on October 19but had to return before reaching the sanctum sanctorum due tomassive protests by Ayyappa devotees.

Fathima and Hyderabad-based journalist Kavithawere taken to the hills under heavy police protection.

On September 28, 2018 the apex court had liftedthe centuries-old ban on the entry of women of menstrual ageinto the shrine.

The decision was challenged by devotees.

The Supreme Court has formed a nine-judgeConstitution bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde to hearthe issue of allowing women and girls of all ages to enterSabarimala temple, along with the other contentious issues ofalleged discrimination against Muslim and Parsi women. TGBBNWELCOME TGBBNWELCOME