NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the reference of legal questions over the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple, to a larger bench.
A 9-judge Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde, rejected the objections of senior advocates FS Nariman and Shyam Divan to a 5-judge bench’s decision last November to refer the legal questions to a larger bench.
The lawyers argued the bench was wrong in referring the mater without deciding the review petitions challenging the 2018 Sabarimala verdict, which allowed women of all age groups to enter the hill-top shrine.
Day-to-day hearing to settle the issues will commence from February 17. The opening submissions will be made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, followed by senior advocate K Parasaran.
One lawyer from each side will make leading arguments. They will also get one full day to argue. The court will also give two hours each to lawyers to make supplementary arguments.
The larger bench will also consider the issues of Muslim women’s entry into mosques and dargahs.