SC may not take up Sabarimala review on Jan 22

The Supreme Court may not take up a batch of review petitions for reconsideration of the Sabarimala judgement on January 22. The matter related to re-look on the judgement of September 28 which by a majority view of 4:1 allowed entry of women of all ages into Kerala's Sabarimala temple.

A bench presided over by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi disclosed that Justice Indu Malhotra, one of the judges of the Constitution bench, would not be available on the date.

The court's response came after advocate Mathews J Nedumpara mentioned an application filed to seek video recording and telecast of the proceedings in the matter.

A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra had earlier fixed over 48 petitions for review of the judgement for an open court hearing on January 22.

The court had earlier held that the ban imposed on the basis of the physiological condition of women amounted to gender discrimination.

The judgement which saw a huge protest in Kerala was sought to be reviewed on the ground that it was absolutely untenable and irrational.

It was contended that the deity is a 'Naistika Brahmachari', females below the age of 10 and after the age of 50 years are eligible to worship him and there is no practice of excluding worship by females.