In the book Due Process of Law released in 1979, Lord Denning said:

“A woman feels as keenly, thinks as clearly, as a man. She in her sphere does work as useful as man does in his. She has as much right to her freedom -- to develop her personality to the full – as a man.”

2. Yet, the female members of the erstwhile Royal Family of Cochin have approached this Court aggrieved by the disqualification imposed on them from being nominated as Trustees of the Palace Administration Board, as trusteeship is exclusively set apart to the male members, seeking a declaration that S.4 of the Valiamma Thampuran Kovilakam Estate and the Palace Fund Proclamation IX of 1124 M.E (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Royal Proclamation’) to the extent it stipulates nomination of only the male members of the family to be trustees in the Palace Administration Board (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Board’) is unconstitutional.

3. The Royal Proclamation was promulgated by the Maharaja of Cochin on 15th Midhunam 1124 ME corresponding to 29.06.1949, in order to make provisions for the administration, management and conservation of the properties of the Valiamma Thampuran Kovilakam Estate and the Palace Fu