New Delhi: A nine-member Constitution Bench will hear arguments in connection with the entry of Sabarimala girl. The names of the judges have not been released. The bench, headed by the Chief Justice, will have its final list in two days. It is likely to be heard in open court.
In Sabarimala, it would be important to check whether the Constitution violates the women’s rights. The nine-member bench may also consider women’s entry into mosques and women’s freedom of worship in Parsi mosques. Meanwhile, only the Sabarimala case was listed yesterday for consideration on the 13th.
The Supreme Court has upheld sixty pending review petitions against the girl’s admission. The final verdict is expected to begin before April 23, 2021, when the Chief Justice retires.
Last week, the Supreme Court Assistant Registrar issued a letter to all parties requesting the transfer of four sets of paper books already filed in the case. The five-member bench had earlier submitted six paper books. Four sets were also asked for when the bench was taken up for consideration.
At Sabarimala
Consider
1. Petitions against the judgment issued on September 28, 2018, granting the young woman access
2. A petition filed by the Indian Young Lawyers Association in 2006 seeking permission for the girl’s admission
3. Application by the Travancore Devaswom Board seeking time to execute the judgment
The verdict of November
A five-member bench headed by former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi ruled last November that the Sabarimala case of similar nature, the admission of women to Muslim and Parsi shrines and the Dawoodi Bohra case would be considered jointly by the broad constitutional bench. The verdict was in a 3: 2 majority.