Earlier, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi stated that Indu Malhotra, the lone woman judge of the bench considering the case, is on medical leave and hence the case is unlikely to be considered on January 22 as scheduled
New Delhi: Supreme Court will consider the review pleas in connection with the Sabarimala case on February 6.
Earlier, the court had decided to consider the pleas on January 22. Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on January 15 stated that Indu Malhotra, the lone woman judge of the bench considering the case, is on medical leave and hence the case is unlikely to be considered on January 22. Indu Malhotra had earlier opposed the entry of women of menstruating age into Sabarimala.
The Supreme Court had earlier clarified that the writ petitions would be considered only after hearing the review petitions. The Supreme Court is also set to consider the writ petitions on Sabarimala on February 8.
Chennai native Vijayakumar, Mumbai native Sylaja Vijayan, VHJ leader S Jaya Rajakumar and Akhil Bharatiya Malayalies Sangh have submitted the writ petitions in the Supreme Court.
The writ petitions were submitted during the time review petitions were filed in the Supreme Court. The verdict of the apex court on September 28 allowing the entry of women of all age groups into the famous shrine had made Sabarimala a battlefield. A total of 49 review petitions have been filed before the court.
Allowing unrestricted access to the court proceedings is expected to enhance public awareness of intricacies of the faith of the sect of Lord Ayyappa's followers. The hearing could turn out to be a watershed moment in the history of the evolution of religions in the country, as many living in the north of the Vindhyas may well begin respecting the belief system of the devotees who largely hail from Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. This, in turn, might blunt the attack on the faith by ill-educated or politically-motivated feminists and their cheerleaders.
Meanwhile, four women in southern India made history by entering Sabarimala temple where women of menstruating age have not been allowed for centuries.
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