Sabarimala reference case: A nine-member bench to begin hearing on Apr 7

New Delhi: A nine-member bench will begin hearing of pleas related to discrimination against women at religious places, including Kerala's Sabarimala Temple, on April 7. The hearing is proposed to be concluded on April 22.

A three-member bench of CJI Surya Kant, justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi passed the orders to this effect on Monday for the listing of the reference before a nine-judge bench. The composition of the nine-judge bench will be notified by CJI Kant.

The nine-judge bench will examine seven important legal questions concerning religious rights and freedoms to decide the course of the Sabarimala Temple entry row on whether women can be allowed to enter the hill shrine in Kerala.


Appearing on behalf of the Centre, solicitor general Tushar Mehta said the Centre is in support of the review pleas which challenge the 2018 verdict on entry of women to the temple. The ruling will impact other cases regarding the entry of Muslim women in dargah/mosque, of Parsi women married to a non-Parsi in the Agyari and the practice of female genital mutilation among the Dawoodi Bohra community.

In September 2018, SC by a 4:1 verdict allowed entry of women of all age groups to the Sabarimala Temple. After a bunch of review pleas, it decided to keep the petitions in the matter pending.