The Supreme Court has established a nine-judge Constitution Bench to address the long-pending Sabarimala review matter. Scheduled to commence hearings, the bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, will consider review petitions challenging the 2018 judgment allowing women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala temple. The proceedings, including Justices B.V. Nagarathna, M.M. Sundresh, and others, will start at 10:30 a.m. in the Chief Justice’s court.
Apart from the Sabarimala issue, the bench will delve into broader constitutional queries on religious freedom under Article 25. These include matters like the entry of Muslim women into mosques, Parsi women’s rights post interfaith marriage, excommunication practices, and female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra community. The bench, under CJI Surya Kant, has outlined a detailed schedule for the hearings, addressing the maintainability of the reference and identifying seven legal questions for resolution.
The hearings will progress with arguments from parties supporting the review petitions from April 7 to April 9, followed by submissions from opposing parties between April 14 and April 16. The schedule also includes a provision for rejoinder submissions on April 21, with final arguments by the amicus curiae slated to conclude on April 22. Emphasizing the importance of Constitution Bench matters, the court has mandated all parties to submit written arguments in advance and adhere strictly to the set timelines.
In the lead-up to the hearings, the Travancore Devaswom Board has advocated for a “community-centric” interpretation of religion, urging the court to respect faith-based practices without reinterpretation. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Union government, has expressed support for the review petitions, aligning with the stance of the Centre.
