MASSIVE: Right to Pray arguments to be completed within 10 days, orders CJI Bobde

Chief Justice of India Sharad Bobde has said that Supreme Court will have a marathon 10-days hearing over issue of Right to Pray which is likely to start from February 3.  Chief Justice of India has explicitly stated that parties will have to complete ir arguments within ten days of marathon hearing.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has informed Supreme Court that parties have t been able to narrow down issues regarding  case. Solicitor General has asked Supreme Court to frame issues in case. Supreme Court in its previous hearing on January 13 had directed all concerned parties to come toger and decide on issues concerning case.

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9-judge bench to hear case

'Right to pray' hearings which commenced in Supreme Court on January 13 was adjourned to first week of February to hear issues pertaining to discrimination against women in various religions and at religious places including Kerala's Sabarimala Temple. Supreme Court on January 9 had set up a 9-judge constitution bench to hear matter from January 13 on a daily basis.

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On vember 14, Supreme Court had decided by a 3:2 verdict to review its 2018 Sabarimala order, referring it to a 7-judge SC bench. While delivering its verdict, apex court clubbed entry of women in mosques and tower of silence, legality of female genital mutilation in Dawoodi Bohra community along with Sabarimala issue. But re will t be a stay on earlier judgment which allowed entry of women between group of 10 to 50 years into Sabarimala temple.

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What is Sabarimala case?

On September 28, 2018, SC lifted ban on entry of women belonging to all groups in Sabarimala temple. This sparked off huge protests across Kerala. Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) which mans shrine, argued that SC could t interfere with a century-old belief as ban was based on deity's celibate identity. While Kerala government supported verdict, it has t yet allowed women to enter shrine.

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