Kantaru Rajeevaru v. Indian Young Lawyers Association Thr. Its General Secretary Ms. Bhakti Pasrija and Ors.
Background
This is not a final judgment. After the 2018 Sabarimala judgment allowing women of all ages to enter the temple, review petitions were filed. In November 2019, a five-judge bench kept them pending and referred wider questions on Articles 25 and 26 to a larger bench. Some parties objected that such a reference cannot be made in a review petition.
Decision Breakdown
This is not a final judgment. The nine-judge bench held that the reference was maintainable and framed seven questions of law for it to answer, on matters such as the scope of religious freedom and essential religious practices. It expressly did not express any view on the merits of the review petitions, which remain pending.
Lesson Learnt
There is no final ruling yet. The questions on religious freedom raised by the Sabarimala case are to be answered by a nine-judge bench.