New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked all States and Union Territories, UTs, to strictly follow the Centre’s advisory on checking the practice of forcing young girls to serve as Devadasis. A bench comprising Justices F M I Kalifullah and S A Bobde took on record the advisory of the Ministry of Home Affairs and disposed of a PIL filed by a Kerala-based NGO.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had sent the advisory to all States and Union Territories on December 22nd, last year to stop illegal activities of subjecting young girls into Devadasis system.

‘Devadasis’ are women dedicated to temple services for the rest of their lives and many of them are often victims of sexual abuse.