1. The three Judge Bench headed by the Hon’ble CJI Shri S A Bobde clarified that in view of the questions raised in the Review Verdict in the #Sabarimala case, the balance of convenience lies in favour of the practice of the Temple which has existed for over a 1000 years.
2. The CJI observed that while it could be argued that there is no stay of the 2018 verdict, the Court is exercising its discretion to not pass orders allowing entry until questions raised in the Review Verdict are finally decided by a larger Bench.
3. The CJI also observed that the majority view in the Review Verdict deemed it fit to entertain the Review Petitions as well as refer to a larger Bench since the 2018 verdict merits reconsideration.
4. In view of the reference to the larger Bench, the Bench has deemed it fit to not pass in any orders allowing entry in the Writ Petitions filed by Ms. Rehana Fathima and Ms. Bindu.
5. The Bench has directed that the Review Petitions will be taken up at the earliest after the decision of the larger Bench to be constituted in accordance with the reference in the Review Verdict dated November 14, 2019.
6. The Court has refused to pass any orders allowing the prayers made on behalf of Ms. Rehana Fathima and Ms. Bindu to grant police protection for entry into the #Sabarimala Temple.
7. As regards the security already to Ms. Bindu under earlier order to protect her, the said order shall continue until further orders. However, the said security does not extend to entry into the #Sabarimala Temple.
9. In light of the orders of today's order, our position that the judgement and orders of the Division Bench of the Kerala High Court passed in S. Mahendran v. State of Kerala in 1991 stands and the Kerala Government is bound by it.
