CJI Rejects Plea For Urgent Listing Of Sabarimala Review Petition

The Supreme Court has declined request for early hearing of the review petitions filed against the Sabarimala judgment which allowed entry of women of all age groups to the temple.

"The review petition will be listed in the usual course", said the CJI Ranjan Gogoi, in response to the mentioning made by Advocate Mathew Nedumpara, who requested for an early hearing of the review petition before the SC closes for Dusshera vacation on October 12. Nedumpara submitted that there was urgency to consider the review before the Sabarimala temple opened for "pujas" on October 16

Mathew Nedumpara has filed the review on behalf of National Ayyappa Devotees(Women's) Association, stating that judgment has sent “shock waves among millions of Ayyappa devotees”. The petition also asserted that "the devotees of Lord Ayyappa were not heard during the hearing of the case and hence, they must now be heard on all issues of fact and law".

The Nair Service Society has also filed a review petition, contending that test of rationality under Article 14 cannot be applied to essential practises of religion.