Lord Ayyappa temple row activist Rehana Fathima told to retire

BSNL has ordered compulsory retirement for its employee and activist Rehana Fathima, who had attempted to enter the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, for her “intentional” act of outraging the religious feelings of devotees through social media posts.

Fathima, a technician with the state-run telecommunications company, had been suspended from service following her arrest in November 2018 over her Facebook posts.

The activist said she would challenge the order at the appropriate forum and alleged political intervention behind the decision.

The company in its order said Fathima’s acts were “subversive of discipline and amount to misconduct”.