SC judge on leave, may delay hearing

New Delhi, January 15

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The Supreme Court is unlikely to take up on January 22 close to 50 petitions seeking review of its Sabarimala verdict allowing women of all age groups into the famous hill-top shrine in Kerala.

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on Tuesday said it may not be possible to hear the review petitions as Justice Indu Malhotra is on medical leave. The CJI was responding to advocate Mathew J Nedumpara's plea for live streaming of the hearing of the hearing of Sabarimala review petitions. The advocate mentioned the matter this morning before the CJI's Bench.

The SC in November said it would take up on January 22 in open court close to 50 petitions seeking review of its Sabarimala verdict allowing women of all age groups into the famous hill-top shrine in Kerala. But a five-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had said there would be no stay on its September 28 verdict allowing entry of women of all age groups to the temple.

The other four members of the Bench are: Justice Rohinton Nariman, Justice AM Khanwilkar, Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Indu Malhotra.

Earlier, the SC had several times 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. A Constitution Bench headed by the then CJI Dipak Misra had on September 28 lifted the restriction on the entry of women into the temple, evoking protests by women devotees. The review petitioners contended that “sheer uniqueness” of Sabarimala Temple made it a fit case for grant of religious denomination status. — TNS