Supreme Court To Hear Sabarimala Entry Review Petitions With Nine-Judge Bench

The Supreme Court of India is set to hear long-pending review petitions concerning the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala Temple, marking a crucial stage in the ongoing legal debate.

CJI Suryakant has constituted a nine-judge Constitution Bench to examine broader constitutional questions arising from the case.

The petitions argue that Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution guarantee individuals and religious groups the right to practise and manage their faith according to their beliefs.

The bench will begin hearings from April 7, 2026, and will deliberate on fundamental legal issues concerning the scope of religious freedom and its intersection with individual rights.

The Constitution Bench, led by the Chief Justice and including Justices BV Nagarathna, MM Sundresh, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, Augustine Masih, Prasanna Varale, R Mahadevan, and Joymalya Bagchi, will examine whether individual fundamental rights override community religious practices.

It will address issues of religious freedom, the balance between personal rights and denominational practices, and judicial review in religious matters.

The court has ordered written submissions and scheduled hearings: supporters from April 7–9 and opposing sides from April 14–16.

The court will hear rejoinders on April 21 and conclude the final hearing on April 22.

A bench led by Dipak Misra ruled in 2018 that women of all ages can enter the temple, asserting that devotion cannot face gender bias.

Justice Indu Malhotra dissented, arguing that courts should not interfere in religious practices.

Moreover, the ongoing review extends beyond Sabarimala, potentially shaping India’s interpretation of religious freedom and equality.

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