Sabarimala Women Entry Case: Supreme Court Forms Nine-Judge Bench for Hearing on 7 April
The Supreme Court will review over 60 petitions challenging the 2018 verdict allowing women of menstruating age to enter Sabarimala temple, with hearings set for April 2026.
- On February 16, 2026, the Supreme Court of India scheduled review and writ petitions for hearing before a nine-judge Constitution Bench starting April 7, 2026, with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant heading the Bench.
- The 2018 five-judge ruling had struck down Rule 3 of the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship Rules, 1965, and over 60 review and writ petitions have challenged this September 28, 2018 5-judge judgment, invoking the Shirur Mutt seven-judge Bench on essential religious practices.
- Parties backing the review must submit arguments April 7–9, those opposing from April 14–16, with rejoinders on April 21 and amicus curiae on April 22, adhering to the timetable, the court said.
- The court framed central questions about Article 25 and Article 26, including the scope of the right to freedom of religion, judicial review over religious practices, and whether 'morality' includes constitutional morality.
- The case returns after nearly five years and a pandemic-related hiatus, with the 2019 judgment not expressly staying the 2018 verdict and the Centre supporting a review.
21 Articles
21 Articles
SC to form 9-judge bench for Sabarimala, other religious entry cases; Kerala govt to file stance by March 14
Supreme Court of India women entry case hearing begins April 7th. The nine-judge bench will address alleged discrimination against women at religious.Sabarimala Temple women entry, Supreme Court India women rights, religious discrimination women, Constitution bench hearing, women access religious places, AI legal analysis religious law, LLM case outcome prediction, Sabarimala review petition, women in dargahs and mosques, Parsi women fire temple…
Kerala govt will take appropriate stand on Sabarimala women entry issue, says minister
Kerala Law Minister P Rajeev has indicated that the govt will take an appropriate decision on the Sabarimala women entry issue and the Supreme Court will focus on foundational constitutional matters.
Sabarimala temple case: Upper caste orgs reiterate opposition to entry of women
Kottayam: Kerala’s two major Hindu caste outfits, the NSS and the SNDP Yogam on Monday, February 16, reiterated that women of menstruating age should not be allowed entry into the Sabarimala temple, as the Supreme Court considered review petitions in the matter. Nair Service Society (NSS) general secretary G Sukumaran Nair said the organisation has not changed its stand against the entry of women of menstruating age at Sabarimala. NSS represents…
Nine-judge bench to begin Sabarimala women entry review hearing on April 7
A nine-judge Constitution Bench will begin hearings on April 7 to examine critical questions on religious freedoms and rights, determining the future of women's entry to the Sabarimala temple and similar cases involving religious practices across India.
Sabarimala women entry case: Supreme Court forms nine-judge bench for hearing on 7 April
The Supreme Court of India will start hearings on the Sabarimala temple entry case, involving a nine-judge Constitution Bench. The proceedings is expected address key issues concerning essential religious practices, equality, and constitutional morality.
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