Supreme Court’s 9-Judge Bench To Hear Sabarimala Review From April 7
The Supreme Court will begin hearing the long-pending Sabarimala review reference from April 7, 2026. A nine-judge Constitution Bench will examine key constitutional questions that will shape the future of the temple entry issue.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, has directed all parties to file written submissions by March 14, 2026. The final hearings are scheduled to conclude on April 22.
Hearing Schedule
- April 7–9: Review petitioners and those supporting them
- April 14–16: Parties opposing the review
- April 21: Rejoinder submissions
- April 22: Final submissions by the amicus curiae
The Court has instructed lawyers to strictly follow the timeline so that arguments are completed within the fixed schedule.
Centre Supports Review Petitions
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Court that the Central government is supporting the review petitions. These petitions challenge the 2018 judgment which allowed women of all ages to enter Sabarimala Temple.
Background of the Case
In September 2018, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, by a 4:1 majority, permitted entry of women of all age groups into the temple. This decision struck down the traditional practice that barred women of menstruating age.
The ruling led to widespread protests in Kerala. Several review petitions were later filed before the Court.
In November 2019, the Supreme Court did not directly decide the review petitions. Instead, it referred broader constitutional issues to a larger Bench. These issues include:
- Scope of religious freedom
- Relationship between Articles 25 and 26 (religious rights) and Article 14 (right to equality)
- Whether constitutional morality applies to religious practices
- Meaning of “religious denomination”
- Whether outsiders can challenge religious practices through PIL
The matter was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why This Hearing Is Important
The nine-judge Bench’s decision will not only affect the Sabarimala case but also impact other pending matters related to:
- Entry of Muslim women in mosques and dargahs
- Rights of Parsi women married outside the community to enter Agyaris
- The issue of female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra community
The upcoming hearings are expected to play a major role in defining how courts balance religious freedom with equality and constitutional values in India.
