The nine-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, hearing the Sabarimala reference, is also examining key questions relating to the scope of judicial review, the balance between Articles 25 and 26 and Article 14, the role of “constitutional morality”, and the maintainability of PILs in religious matters.
The Centre emphasised that judges lack the necessary theological grounding to decide such matters, a position consistently stressed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta during the course of the hearing in the first two days.
The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that issues of social reform arising from religious practices fall within the domain of the legislature and not the judiciary, as a nine-judge Constitution Bench began final hearing in the Sabarimala women entry matter.
The top court’s nine-judge bench will decide how equality, faith and constitutional morality intersect, with implications across religions beyond the Sabarimala temple dispute.
TDB president K Jayakumar said here on Tuesday that the board had erred in not answering the auditor’s queries in entirety, thus inadvertently creating room for scepticism. He said the Board is to be blamed for the flaws and not the auditor.
Banners and posters accusing Sukumaran Nair of “stabbing the Nair community in the back” appeared in Pathanamthitta, Poonjar in Kottayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and other places.
Speaking to media persons in Kannur, Satheesan said that the Congress and the UDF have taken up the political mission of exposing so-called “hypocritical bhakti groups” associated with the Sabarimala controversy.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan highlighted the spiritual significance of the Sabarimala shrine, describing it as a rare symbol of inclusiveness that transcends caste, creed and religion.
The court directed the chief vigilance and Security officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to conduct a thorough investigation into the loss of weight of gold and submit a report within three weeks.
The court said the work may continue as long as it follows due legal procedures.
