The Supreme Court on Thursday referred to a larger seven-judge bench the petitions seeking review of its 2018 decision to allow the entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50 into Kerala’s Sabarimala temple.
The court said restrictions on women of all ages in religious places was not limited to Sabarimala only and was prevalent in other religions as well.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi said a larger Bench will decide all such religious issues that also includes – allowing Muslim and Parsi women to enter religious practice.
CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Justice AM Khanwilkar, Justice Indu Malhotra refer the case to a larger bench by a 3:2 ruling, while Justices RF Nariman and DY Chandrachud dissented.
The apex court, by a majority verdict of 4:1 had lifted the ban on September 28, 2018 that prevented women and girls between the age of 10 and 50 from entering the shrine in Kerala.
