Supreme Court begins hearing on Sabarimala case as nine-judge bench examines key constitutional questions

The Supreme Court of India has started hearing the long-pending Sabarimala case, which could have a major impact on how religion and fundamental rights are understood in the country. A nine-judge Constitution Bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, is now looking into important legal questions linked to the case.

The issue goes beyond just the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala. The court will examine broader questions about the right to practice religion and how it relates to other rights like equality, dignity, and freedom.

At the centre of the debate is Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of religion. The judges will decide how far this right can go and whether it can be limited when it conflicts with other fundamental rights.

One of the key questions is whether courts should interfere in religious practices at all. The Bench will also examine what counts as an “essential religious practice.” This means deciding which customs are truly important to a religion and which can be changed or challenged.

Another important issue is whether people who do not belong to a particular religion can question its practices in court through public interest litigation. This has become a major point of debate in recent years.

The court will also look at the idea of “constitutional morality.” This refers to values like equality and justice that are part of the Constitution. Judges will consider whether these values should override traditional religious practices in some cases.

The hearing is expected to continue for several days. Many groups and individuals have joined the case, making it one of the most complex constitutional matters in recent times. More than 80 parties have already submitted their arguments to the court.

Decision may affect many religious practices across India

Although the case is about the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple, its impact could go far beyond this single issue. The court’s decision may influence several other religious practices across different communities in India.

The Sabarimala issue started with restrictions on the entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50. In 2018, a five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court allowed women of all ages to enter the temple. The majority of judges said that religious practices cannot deny equality and dignity to women.

However, the decision led to protests and strong reactions from many devotees. After that, several review petitions were filed, asking the court to reconsider its ruling.

In 2019, a Bench led by former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi referred larger constitutional questions to a bigger Bench. This is why a nine-judge Bench is now hearing the matter.

The outcome of this case could affect other issues as well. These include the entry of women into certain religious places, practices of excommunication in some communities, and personal laws related to marriage and family.

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Groups like the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and representatives from other religious communities have also shared their views in the case. This shows how widely the decision could impact different faiths.

The Centre has supported the review petitions. It has argued that the restriction at Sabarimala is linked to the nature of the deity, Lord Ayyappa, who is believed to be a celibate. According to the government, allowing entry of all women could change the character of the temple’s traditions.

Interestingly, the Government of Kerala has also changed its earlier stand and is now supporting the review petitions. It has told the court that traditional practices should not be easily changed by judicial orders.

The court has fixed a schedule for the hearings. Those supporting the review petitions will present their arguments first, followed by those opposing them, including women’s rights groups. After that, the court will hear final responses before making a decision.

For now, the nine-judge Bench will focus only on answering the larger constitutional questions. The final decision on the Sabarimala issue itself may come later, based on these answers.

This case is important because it deals with a sensitive balance between faith and law. On one hand, people have the right to follow their religious beliefs. On the other hand, the Constitution guarantees equality and dignity to all citizens.

The court’s decision could set a clear direction for how such conflicts are handled in the future. It may define the limits of religious freedom and the role of courts in protecting individual rights.

As the hearings continue, many people across the country are watching closely. The final judgment is expected to shape legal thinking on religion and rights in India for years to come.