India's Supreme Court Weighs in on Temple Ban, Centre Pushes Back

The Centre told the bench led by the CJI that he filed a written submission and gave instances where men are not allowed in temples.| India News

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The Supreme Court of India continues to hear a case regarding the ban on women inside the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala. A nine-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, is examining the matter. The court has expressed concerns that excluding certain denominations from temple access could have a negative impact on Hinduism.

Justices BV Nagarathna and Aravind Kumar stated that such exclusions would divide society and harm Hinduism. The Centre, however, has backed the restriction, citing instances of temples where men are not allowed entry.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted data and highlighted a temple in Kerala where men dress as women to attend. He argued that the practice is not male-centric, but rather woman-centric. The Centre maintains that the 2018 Sabarimala judgment, which lifted restrictions on women's entry, was wrongly decided.

The Supreme Court has emphasized that while it may restrain from judging religious practices, it cannot ignore constitutional freedoms, including the right to religious freedom.