The nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Monday held that questions of law in Sabarimala case can be referred to a larger review bench, reported news agency ANI.

The nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Monday held that questions of law in Sabarimala case can be referred to a larger review bench, reported news agency ANI. The court was passing judgement on more than 50 review petitions challenging the apex court's earlier verdict on the issue. The apex court's nine-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde also framed seven issues to be heard by the nine-judge bench on matters relating to freedom of religion under Constitution and faith, the report added. The bench had reserved its order on February 6 after hearing the arguments on the issue of whether the top court can refer questions of law and what can be the composition of the law on the issue of the review petitions pending before it. "We will pronounce the order on Monday," the court had said after hearing arguments from all the respective parties. Justices R Banumathi, Ashok Bhushan, L Nageshwar Rao, Mohan M Shantanagoudar, S Abdul Nazeer, R Subhash Reddy, B R Gavai and Surya Kant are the other judges in the bench beside the CJI. The bench was hearing matters relating to discrimination against women in various religions including Kerala`s Sabarimala temple, mosques, the practice of female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra community and Parsi women married to non-Parsi men being barred from its holy fire temple. (With inputs from ANI)

Sabarimala case: Supreme Court says questions of law can be referred to larger bench for review 

As a major development in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/larger-constitution-bench-of-supreme-court-to-sabarimala-review-petitions-in-january-269501">Sabarimala temple case</a>, a nine-judge Constitution bench of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/section-144-cannot-be-used-to-suppress-freedom-of-speech-kapil-sibal-273479">Supreme Court</a> will hear the batch of petitions seeking considerable review of the 2018 judgement which alllowed girls and women of all age groups to visit and offer prayers&nbsp;in the shrine.&nbsp;

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/from-the-corridors-of-judiciary-supreme-court-verdicts-that-held-nations-attention-in-2019-270230">apex court</a> had on January 6 issued a notice informing about the listing. 
 
On December 13, the Supreme Court had said that its 2018 order on Sabarimala temple issue was "not final" as the matter is pending before a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-refers-sabarimala-case-to-larger-constitution-bench-261956">seven-judge bench</a>, which, it had said, will be constituted soon. 
 
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde had made these observations while passing an order on a petition filed by two activists&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-likely-to-hear-bindu-aminis-plea-on-sabarimala-entry-next-week-266448">Bindu Ammini</a> and Fathima A S, seeking safe passage for women inside the shrine. 
 
"There is a judgment (allowing women entry) in the Sabarimala temple, but it is equally true that the issue has been referred to a larger Bench. We do not want any <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kerala-devotees-pay-obeisance-at-sabarimala-temple-262681">violence</a>," the court had observed. 
 
The apex court, however, granted police protection to the two activists. 
 
In November, a man had sprayed chili and pepper on Bindu's face when she was on her way to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amid-tight-security-arrangements-sabarimala-temple-opens-for-prayer-262585">Sabarimala</a> temple. Fathima had also tried to enter the shrine. 
 
The apex court refused to pass any other order in connection to the matter. 
 
The apex court had in the year 2018 allowed girls and women of all age groups to visit the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/will-visit-sabarimala-temple-as-it-is-our-constitutional-right-trupti-desai-264546">Lord Ayyappa temple</a> at Sabarimala in Kerala, following which a batch of review petitions was filed. 
 
Allowing their review petitions, the court had referred the matter to a larger bench.

As a major development in Sabarimala temple case, a nine-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court will hear the batch of petitions seeking considerable review of the 2018 judgement which alllowed girls and women of all age groups to visit and offer prayers in the shrine.

As a major development in Sabarimala temple case, a nine-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court will hear the batch of petitions seeking considerable review of the 2018 judgement which alllowed girls and women of all age groups to visit and offer prayers in the shrine. The apex court had on January 6 issued a notice informing about the listing. On December 13, the Supreme Court had said that its 2018 order on Sabarimala temple issue was "not final" as the matter is pending before a seven-judge bench, which, it had said, will be constituted soon. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde had made these observations while passing an order on a petition filed by two activists Bindu Ammini and Fathima A S, seeking safe passage for women inside the shrine. "There is a judgment (allowing women entry) in the Sabarimala temple, but it is equally true that the issue has been referred to a larger Bench. We do not want any violence," the court had observed. The apex court, however, granted police protection to the two activists. In November, a man had sprayed chili and pepper on Bindu's face when she was on her way to Sabarimala temple. Fathima had also tried to enter the shrine. The apex court refused to pass any other order in connection to the matter. The apex court had in the year 2018 allowed girls and women of all age groups to visit the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala, following which a batch of review petitions was filed. Allowing their review petitions, the court had referred the matter to a larger bench.

Nine-judge Supreme Court bench to hear issue of women's entry in Sabarimala temple from today

Kerala police have made elaborate security arrangements and planned to deploy over 10,000 officers in and around Sabarimala for the Mandala Pooja festival.

The deployment will be done over five phases starting from November 15. The temple will open on November 16 for the three-month-long pilgrimage season.

The Kerala police release said that 24 Superintendents of Police and Assistant Superintendents of Police, 112 Deputy SPs, 264 Inspectors, 1185 Sub-Inspectors will be posted. Also, a total of 8402 civil police officers, including 307 women, will be on duty around the shrine complex.

Earlier this month, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that it is not possible to make laws to circumvent the Supreme Court`s order permitting entry of women of all age into the Sabarimala temple.

The Supreme Court had on September 28 last year permitted the entry of women of all age groups into the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple.&nbsp;

Kerala police have made elaborate security arrangements and planned to deploy over 10,000 officers in and around Sabarimala for the Mandala Pooja festival. The deployment will be done over five phases starting from November 15.

Kerala police have made elaborate security arrangements and planned to deploy over 10,000 officers in and around Sabarimala for the Mandala Pooja festival. The deployment will be done over five phases starting from November 15. The temple will open on November 16 for the three-month-long pilgrimage season. The Kerala police release said that 24 Superintendents of Police and Assistant Superintendents of Police, 112 Deputy SPs, 264 Inspectors, 1185 Sub-Inspectors will be posted. Also, a total of 8402 civil police officers, including 307 women, will be on duty around the shrine complex. Earlier this month, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that it is not possible to make laws to circumvent the Supreme Court`s order permitting entry of women of all age into the Sabarimala temple. The Supreme Court had on September 28 last year permitted the entry of women of all age groups into the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple.

Over 10,000 security personnel to be deployed as Sabarimala set to open for new season