The Constitution Bench presided by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India pronounced its judgment on the review petitions challenging the verdict of September 28, 2018 which permitted entry of women into the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple.
The review petitions hv been held maintainable by 3 of 5 Judges who have taken view that review petitions hv raised at least 7 imp questions which merit consideration by larger Bench since it also impacts question of entry of Muslim women into Mosques & Female Genital Mutilation
Some of the questions framed by the majority include the question of whether a Court can decide as to what amounts to an essential religious practice in so far as particular place of worship is concerned.
The majority has also indicated that this call for revisitation of the Shirur Mutt Judgement as well as the Durga Committee judgement involving the Dawoodi Bohra community.
All review petitions hv been kept pending for consideration by larger Bench. The majority view did not touch upon question of stay of verdict dated 28/9/2018 during course of today's pronouncement. That will need to be examined only after copy of today's verdict becomes available
As far as the minority opinion of Justices D Y Chandrachud & R. F. Nariman are concerned, they took the view that Review Petitions are not maintainable & are liable to be dismissed. The minority opinion has also directed Kerala govt to implement the verdict of September 28, 2018
