Justice Nagarathna Begins Drafting Landmark Sabarimala Verdict
Justice BV Nagarathna has started writing the long-awaited judgment on the Sabarimala reference, the first judge on the nine-member bench to do so.
A nine-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court, chaired by Chief Justice Surya Kant, had postponed its Sabarimala judgment after hearing extensive arguments. Justice BV Nagarathna, the only female judge on the panel, has begun authoring the bench’s opinion, marking the first written contribution from the group. Her involvement is notable given her prior independent dissents in major constitutional cases.
The pending verdict will address how Articles 14, 25 and 26 interact, the scope of judicial review over religious practices, and the relevance of the essential-religious-practice doctrine. The reference originates from the September 2018 decision that allowed women of any age to enter the Kerala temple. Other judges on the bench may also submit separate opinions before the final ruling is released.
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