Sabarimala Reference : Live Updates From Supreme Court 9-Judge Bench

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7 April 2026 10:54 AM IST

  • Sabarimala Reference : Live Updates From Supreme Court 9-Judge Bench
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    A 9-judge bench of the Supreme Court will start hearing the Constitutional issues referred to the larger bench in the Sabarimala review.

    Apart from CJI Surya Kant, the Bench comprises Justice BV Nagarathna, Justice MM Sundresh, Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Justice Aravind Kumar, Justice Augustine George Masih, Justice Prasanna B Varale, Justice R Mahadevan and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.

    The seven questions before the Supreme Court are :

    (i) What is the scope and ambit of right to freedom of religion under Article 25 of the Constitution of India?

    (ii) What is the inter-play between the rights of persons under Article 25 of the Constitution of India and rights of religious denomination under Article 26 of the Constitution of India?

    (iii) Whether the rights of a religious denomination under Article 26 of the Constitution of India are subject to other provisions of Part III of the Constitution of India apart from public order, morality and health?

    (iv) What is the scope and extent of the word 'morality' under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution of India and whether it is meant to include Constitutional morality?

    (v) What is the scope and extent of judicial review with regard to a religious practice as referred to in Article 25 of the Constitution of India?

    (vi) What is the meaning of expression “Sections of Hindus” occurring in Article 25 (2) (b) of the Constitution of India?

    (vii) Whether a person not belonging to a religious denomination or religious group can question a practice of that religious denomination or religious group by filing a PIL?

    Follow this page for live updates.

    Live Updates

    • 7 April 2026 10:57 AM IST

      Subsequently, various petitions were filed challenging the judgment. CJI Dipak Mishra, who was a part of the original bench, retired. J Khanwilkar, who was in the majority in the original judgment had a change of opinion. By 3:2, the bench decided to keep the Sabarimala review pending until a larger bench decides questions related to essential religious practice.

    • 7 April 2026 10:57 AM IST

      Menstruating women were not allowed to enter the Sabarimala temple.

      In 2018, by 4:1 ratio, the Supreme Court allowed entry of women of all ages, holding that devotion cannot be subjected to gender discrimination: 

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