Sabarimala Case Back in Spotlight: Supreme Court 9-Judge Bench to Decide Women’s Entry in Religious Places
New Delhi, February 16, 2026—The Supreme Court of India has directed that, beginning on April 7, 2026, a Constitution bench consisting of nine judges will consider a number of petitions, including the protracted Sabarimala review case. This is a noteworthy move that may alter India’s legal framework regarding religious freedom and gender discrimination.
The court is expected to meet through mid-April and conclude hearings by April 22. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant will reveal the bench’s exact composition. The Court’s most recent decision was rendered by a panel of three judges: Chief Justice Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi.
The Central Government supports a review of the 2018 Sabarimala verdict, which ruled that a Constitution panel could not forbid women of any age from visiting the Sabarimala shrine because of gender discrimination, according to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
What’s at Stake
The case will revisit the Supreme Court’s September 28, 2018, decision that ruled age-based restrictions on women’s entry to the hilltop shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Kerala were invalid and that gender discrimination could not be applied to devotion. The decision of a five-judge panel had provoked nationwide protests and heated debate.
In addition to the Sabarimala petitions, the nine-judge panel will examine a number of legal matters relating to religious customs and gender equality, including:
access to mosques and dargahs for Muslim women;
the availability of Fire Temples for Parsi women who marry outside of their community;
The endorsement of practices including female genital mutilation (FGM) and excommunication by the Dawoodi Bohra community
These issues have been connected to the Sabarimala reference because they raise common constitutional questions about the scope of equality, religious freedom, and judicial review under Articles 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution.
Schedule and Procedure
The Court’s timetable states that the parties opposing the review will argue from April 14 to 16, while the parties in favor of the Sabarimala ruling review will do so from April 7 to 9. Through April 21–22, Amici and counsel will submit their last comments and a response.
The bench has directed all parties, including the Kerala government, to provide written submissions by March 14, 2026.
A Broader Constitutional Question
Legal experts believe that the nine-judge bench’s talks could set historic precedents for how courts evaluate fundamental rights, particularly whether long-standing gender discriminatory policies can be upheld under the constitution. The Court may further specify the parameters of judicial scrutiny when religious practices clash with the rights to equality and nondiscrimination.
As the hearings approach, parties from a range of legal, social, and religious backgrounds will be closely watching since they are aware that the outcome might have major implications for gender justice and religious freedom in India.
