Justice Nagarathna to be the First Supreme Court Judge to Draft Verdict on Sabarimala Temple Entry Reference

In Brief

1. Justice Nagarathna first judge to start writing Sabarimala reference verdict.
2. The reference follows the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling allowing all women into Sabarimala temple.
3. The original verdict was passed by a 4:1 majority in September 2018.
4. The decision marks a significant moment in temple entry rights in Kerala.

Justice Nagarathna is the first judge on the Supreme Court panel to begin drafting the verdict on the Sabarimala reference case. This reference case stems from the Supreme Court's landmark September 2018 judgment, which allowed women of all ages entry into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.

The 2018 ruling was passed by a 4:1 majority, overturning the traditional ban that barred women between the ages of 10 and 50 from entering the temple. The case has had a profound impact on religious and gender equality debates across India.

The Supreme Court had referred the issue to a larger bench for review following widespread protests and requests for re-examination. Justice Nagarathna's move to start the verdict indicates progress in resolving this high-profile case. The final decision will have wide-ranging implications on gender rights in religious spaces and is anticipated to clarify the legal position on temple entry for women in India.