Reportedly a nine-judge Constitution bench of the supreme court will begin hearing, from january 13, the issue of allowing entry of women of all ages in Kerala's sabarimala temple, clubbed with the issues of entry of women in Muslim and Parsi places of worship. Earlier the apex court issued notice on monday in connection with the listing of the pleas filed by the indian Young Lawyers Association seeking review of the court's 2018 judgement allowing women and girls of all ages to enter the sabarimala temple.
Meanwhile the notice said "Take notice that the following matters will be listed for hearing before a Nine Judges Constitution Bench commencing from monday the 13th january, 2020." Furthermore a five judge bench had, in a 3:2 majority verdict on november 14, referred to a seven-judge bench the pleas seeking review of the 2018 judgement. Further the top court clubbed the restrictions faced by Muslim women in connection with the entry into mosques and dargahs and Parsi women, married to non-Parsi men, being discriminated from entering the fire Temple.
Moreover the All india sabarimala Action Council (AISAC) welcomed on monday the supreme Court's decision to constitute a nine-judge Constitution bench and hear the review petitions against women’s entry. Council general secretary S J R Kumar told "We are hopeful that the traditions of the temple that prevented entry of women of menstruating age (10-50 years) will be protected and the presiding deity, ayyappa, will get justice". Also Union minister v muraleedharan on monday visited the sabarimala temple and lauded the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) for the well organised pilgrimage season.
