‘How Can a Non-Believer Claim Right of Entry to Sabarimala?’: Supreme Court Questions During Hearing

The Supreme Court recently questioned whether a non-believer or a person unconnected with a temple can claim a right of entry into religious places like Sabarimala.

The observations were made by a nine-judge Constitution Bench during hearings on petitions relating to women’s entry into places of worship and the broader scope of religious freedom under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution.

Justice B.V. Nagarathna remarked that the Court must examine whether such rights are being claimed by actual devotees or by persons having no connection with the faith or temple.

The remarks came while senior advocate Indira Jaising defended the 2018 judgment permitting entry of women of all age groups into the Sabarimala temple.

[Kantaru Rajeevaru v. Indian Young Lawyers Association]