Hearing on Sabarimala review pleas on Nov 13

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 23

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would take up petitions seeking review of its Constitution Bench verdict allowing entry of women of all age groups into Sabarimala Temple on November 13. The petitions — 19 in number — are likely to be heard in an open court.

Generally, review petitions are decided through a procedure called “hearing by circulation” in chamber where parties are not represented by their advocates. But in exceptional cases, review petitions are heard in open court and parties can be represented by their advocates.

On Monday, the CJI had said he would indicate the date of hearing on Tuesday after advocate Mathews J Nedumpara had sought urgent listing of his review petition filed on behalf of the National Ayyappa Devotees Association. 

The SC had on October 9 refused to give urgent hearing to petitions seeking review of its ruling lifting age-old restrictions on procreating women from entering famous Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala in Kerala.

It had turned down Nedumpara’s request for urgent listing of review petitions and staying the verdict, saying it will come up in due course even as devotees blocked entry of women of procreating age into the temple.

Last month, a Constitution Bench had lifted the restriction on the entry of women into the temple. Several petitions have been filed seeking a review of the verdict. The review petitioners contended that “sheer uniqueness” of Sabarimala Temple made it a fit case for grant of religious denomination status.