Central Government Supports Ban on Women’s Entry at Sabarimala Temple

The Central Government has supported the ban on women aged 10-50 entering Kerala’s Sabarimala Temple. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that this issue is purely a matter of religious faith and falls under the autonomy of religious institutions, and it is beyond judicial review.

The government emphasized that the practices of every religious denomination must be respected. The matter has gained attention as elections are approaching in Kerala.

Supreme Court Review

The 2018 Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to enter Sabarimala was deemed incorrect by the government, which called for a review. The arguments were presented before a nine-judge Constitution Bench, including Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and eight other judges, starting April 7.

Legal Arguments

Tushar Mehta argued that courts should not determine the obligatoriness of a religious practice. He clarified that the current discussion is limited to seven legal questions referred to the Constitution Bench and not the merits of the 2018 Sabarimala decision.

He emphasized that respect for religious practices does not always relate to dignity or physical freedom, citing examples such as covering one’s head in mosques or gurudwaras. Courts do not need to examine whether a practice is mandatory if it is claimed to be an essential religious practice.