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A nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, is set to hear the long-pending Sabarimala review matter on Tuesday. The case involves multiple petitions raising significant constitutional questions related to religious freedom and gender equality.
The Bench also includes Justices BV Nagarathna, MM Sundresh, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, AG Masih, Prasanna B Varale, R Mahadevan, and Joymalya Bagchi.
It will take up the reference arising from review petitions challenging the court’s September 2018 verdict that allowed women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala Temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa.
Proceedings will begin at 10:30 am in the Chief Justice’s courtroom and continue over multiple days as per a pre-determined schedule.
The court is expected to examine not only the correctness of its 2018 ruling but also wider constitutional issues, including the interpretation of Article 25 and the rights of women to access places of worship across religions.
The Bench will also deliberate on related matters such as the entry of Muslim women into mosques and dargahs, the rights of Parsi women to enter fire temples after interfaith marriages, the legality of excommunication practices, and female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra community.
Arguments Timeline And Key Positions
The court has already clarified that the maintainability of the reference stands settled and identified seven substantial questions of law. Arguments supporting the review petitions will be heard from April 7 to April 9, followed by opposing submissions from April 14 to April 16. Rejoinders are scheduled for April 21, with final arguments by the amicus curiae concluding on April 22.
The Travancore Devaswom Board has urged a community-centric interpretation of religion, advocating judicial restraint in faith-based matters and questioning the continued application of the essential religious practices doctrine.
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the Union government supports the review petitions, maintaining that such issues fall within the domain of religious faith and denominational autonomy rather than judicial review.
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