SC to pronounce judgment on Sabarimala review petitions on Thursday

The Supreme Court on Thursday will pronounce its verdict on the review petition of top court's September 28, 2018 Sabarimala verdict. On February 6 this year, the top court had reserved the verdict in the review petition of its own order of allowing women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala temple in Kerala. A 5-judge Constitution Bench headed by CJI Gogoi will pronounce its judgment on the review petitions. The review petition has been filed by Travancore Devaswom Board, Pandalam Royal Family and group of devotees against apex court's September 28, 2018 verdict. The judgment will be pronounced by a Bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Rohinton Nariman, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra. 

READ: Kerala CM reviews preparations for Sabarimala pilgrimage

Here is the Supreme Court's Notice saying verdict to be pronounced at 10:30 AM on Thursday

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What was the Supreme Court's Sabarimala verdict?

In a historic verdict last year, the Supreme Court ended the centuries-old practice and allowed women of all ages to enter Sabarimala temple. The 4:1 judgment of the Supreme Court upheld women's right to worship Lord Ayyappa in Sabarimala. While terming the ban on women in the age group of 10 to 51 as religious patriarchy, the then CJI Dipak Misra declared the discriminatory act as unconstitutional and violative of fundamental rights. The then CJI Misra while pronouncing the judgment also said that women can't be suppressed on the basis of biological aspects and that the same can't get a seal of legitimacy. Justice Indu Malhotra pronounced the dissenting judgment in the case and said it’s not up to the courts to decide if such religious practices should be struck down and that rationality has no place in matters of faith. 

READ: Sabarimala Verdict | HISTORIC: Supreme Court allows women of all ages to enter the temple

The review petition

Around 56 review petitions and some fresh writ petitions were filed challenging the verdict. The top court had heard the review petitions and writ petitions in open court before reserving its verdict on February 6 this year. Before the retirement of CJI Ranjan Gogoi, the court will pronounce its verdict on Thursday. 

READ: Sabarimala Verdict | Justice Indu Malhotra, The Only Woman Judge In Supreme Court’s 5 Judge Bench

READ: Kerala CM: Legislation on Sabarimala women entry not possible