Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 7: A nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, on Tuesday commenced final hearings in the Sabarimala review case, marking a significant moment in the ongoing debate between constitutional rights and religious practices.

The case centres on the Sabarimala Temple in Pathanamthitta district, where women of menstruating age were traditionally barred from entry due to the belief that Lord Ayyappa is a celibate deity. The restriction was challenged in 2006 by the Indian Young Lawyers Association, arguing that it violated the constitutional guarantee of equality.

In 2018, the Supreme Court, in a landmark 4:1 verdict, struck down the restriction, holding that biological factors cannot limit a woman’s right to worship. The judgment, however, triggered widespread protests across Kerala and led to the filing of multiple review petitions. In 2019, the apex court referred the matter to a larger bench, noting that the issues involved wider constitutional questions concerning the relationship between religious freedom and fundamental rights.

The present bench is now examining whether essential religious practices can be subject to constitutional scrutiny and whether the right to equality can override faith-based customs. The case has also been expanded to include similar questions affecting other religions, thereby broadening its scope beyond Sabarimala.

The Travancore Devaswom Board has urged the court to respect long-standing traditions, while the Union government has supported the review petitions seeking reconsideration of the 2018 verdict.

The outcome of the hearings, expected after arguments conclude later this month, is likely to have far-reaching implications on how constitutional law interacts with religious practices in India.