New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday referred to a larger bench by 3:2 majority, the review petitions filed on the entry of women of all age groups into the Sabarimala temple.
A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi referred the review petitions to a 7-member larger bench.
Endeavour of petitioners was to revive debate on religion and faith, said CJI Ranjan Gogoi on review of Sabarimala verdict.
While Justices Khanwilkar and Indu Malhotra sided with CJI, Justices Chandrachud and Nariman dissented.
Restrictions on women in religious places is not restricted to Sabarimala alone, prevalent in other religions also. SC should evolve common policy on religious places like Sabarimala. Larger bench will decide religious issues relating to Sabarimala, entry of women into mosques, practice of female genital mutilation, CJI said.
On September 28, 2018, the top court opened the gates of the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala dedicated to Lord Ayyappa to the women in the age group of 10-50, saying it was violative of their fundamental rights and constitutional guarantees.
A Constitution bench, headed by the then CJI Dipak Misra, gave a 4:1 verdict claiming the ban led to gender discrimination. The path-breaking judgment has left the temple tantris (priests) and those associated with it by tradition disappointed.
