SC lifts ban on entry of women into Sabarimala
Opponents of the demand for women's entry have said a review petition would be filed
Opponents of the demand for women's entry have said a review petition would be filed
Opponents of the demand for women's entry have said a review petition would be filed
Opponents of the demand for women's entry have said a review petition would be filed
The Supreme Court is expected to pronounce on Friday its verdict on a clutch of pleas challenging the ban on entry of women between 10 and 50 years of age into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.
A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra had reserved its judgement on August 1 after hearing the matter for eight days. The verdict is expected to be delivered by 10.30am on Friday.
The bench, which also comprised Justices R.F. Nariman, A.M. Khanwilkar, D.Y. Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra, had earlier said that the constitutional scheme prohibiting exclusion has "some value" in a "vibrant democracy".
The Supreme Court's verdict would deal with the petitions filed by petitioners Indian Young Lawyers Association and others.
The Kerala government, which has been changing its stand on the contentious issue of women of the menstrual age group entering the Sabarimala temple, had on July 18 told the Supreme Court that it now favoured their entry.
The Supreme Court had on October 13 last year referred the issue to a constitution bench after framing five "significant" questions including whether the practice of banning entry of women into the temple amounted to discrimination and violated their fundamental rights under the Constitution.