Paper: GS – II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Judiciary, Issue: Sabarimala case.
Context:
The Sabarimala temple case (2018) exemplifies India’s ongoing struggle to balance religious autonomy with individual constitutional rights.
- A nine-judge Bench will soon hear final arguments on review petitions challenging the original 4:1 verdict that opened the temple to women of all ages.
Key Takeaways:
The Core Dispute:
Original Ruling (2018):
- Women aged 10-50 ban violated freedom of religion
- Ayyappa devotees not a separate religious denomination
- Rule 3(b) of Kerala temple rules violated Constitution
Dissenting View (Justice Malhotra):
- Age-based exclusion is essential religious practice
- Collective faith rights cannot be overridden by generic equality doctrine
- Custom and religious autonomy deserve protection
Broader Constitutional Implications:
Constitutional Framework Needed (India’s Constitution protects:
- Individual religious freedom (Article 25) and Denominational autonomy (Article 26)
- Religion and social life inextricably connected in India
- Courts cannot remain indifferent to real-life consequences of religious practice
- Individual must remain basic unit of constitutional concern
- Communitarian claims cannot override access to civic life spaces
The Sabarimala review is not merely about temple entry but about redefining India’s secular framework. By shifting focus from theological essentials to constitutional dignity, the anti-exclusion test may better harmonise faith with equality in a transformative Constitution.
Source: (The Hindu)
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