Sabarimala Reference Hearing in Supreme Court Today Updates: The Supreme Court today was hearing the submission of senior advocate Jaising, who, in her submission, also mentioned that Shabari was a woman who offered berries to Shri Ram.
She concluded today’s submission saying,” I am also a Shabari. You are keeping me out. That is the end of the story.”
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Previously, the Supreme Court also talked about the uniqueness of our nation, which is that “diversity” is our strength.
“We are strong because we are diverse, and diversity is our strength, and to bring about a recognition of the diversity in denominations, Article 26 (b) protects it. By giving such protection, there is also a unity developed in the country,” the court added.
Justice Nagarathna previously questioned today how a person in north India can claim the right of entry to a temple in south when senior advocate Indira Jaising was arguing that exclusion of women aged 10–50 violates.
It was the tenth day of the hearing. This case concerns discrimination against women in places of worship, including the Sabarimala temple, and the scope of religious freedom under the Constitution.
What happened at the last hearing?
The Supreme Court clarified previously that the state can “step in” where religious activities impact public order, such as blocking roads, noting that such acts cannot be justified as part of religious practice. It further observed that while autonomy in matters of worship is protected, only activities of a religious nature fall within that protection.
“Apart from that, if a secular activity is also getting affected, then the state can step in. There has to be a balance,” Justice Nagarathna said.
On the eighth day of the hearing, theSupreme Court cautioned on sharing information from “WhatsApp university” when one th counsels, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, cited the words of politician Shashi Tharoor from an articlepublished in The Indian Express-“When the gavel falls on matters of deep-seated belief, it must do so with an awareness of the limitations of legal logic.”
Justice Nagarathna responded with this caution when Kaul contended that there is never any harm in all humility.
“If knowledge and wisdom come from any source, any country, any university, it should be welcome,” he added.
The Chief Justice of India then further added that the court respects all eminent persons, but personal opinions are “personal opinions”.
OnDay 7of the hearing, the Supreme Courtsaidthat Hindus must unite and unify, observing that temples cannot exclude others on denominational lines and that such exclusion would ultimately weaken the denomination itself.
Justice Nagarathna responded to senior advocate Dwivedi, whoarguedthat a religious denomination is a closed and disciplined group protected under Article 26.
Nine-judge bench:Chief Justice of India Surya Kant will preside over the bench, which will include Justices B V Nagarathna, M M Sundresh, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, Augustine George Masih, Prasanna B Varale, R Mahadevan and Joymalya Bagchi.
Questions for consideration:There are sevenquestionsfor consideration before the court:
- What is the scope and ambit of the right to freedom of religion under Article 25 of the Constitution of India?
- What is the interplay between the rights of persons under Article 25 of the Constitution and the rights of religious denominations under Article 26?
- Whether the rights of a religious denomination under Article 26 of the Constitution are subject to other provisions of Part III of the Constitution, apart from public order, morality and health?
- What is the scope and extent of the word ‘morality’ under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, and whether it is meant to include constitutional morality?
- What is the scope and extent of judicial review of a religious practice under Article 25 of the Constitution?
- What is the meaning of the expression “Sections of Hindus” occurring in Article 25 (2) (b) of the Constitution?
- Whether a person not belonging to a religious denomination or religious group can question a practice of that religious denomination or religious group by filing a PIL?
