SC to Hear Sabarimala Review on Women’s Entry From April 7

February 16, 2026

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has announced that a nine‑judge Constitution Bench will begin hearing the long‑pending Sabarimala review case focusing on the entry of women into religious places, including Kerala’s Sabarimala Temple from April 7, 2026. The hearings are expected to continue until April 22, 2026, aiming to resolve critical legal questions regarding gender equality and religious freedom.

Bench Composition and Schedule

A three‑judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, ordered that the matter be listed before the enlarged Constitution Bench. The full bench will commence hearings at 10:30 am on April 7, with a detailed timeline for oral arguments: review supporters will present arguments from April 7 to April 9, opposing parties from April 14 to April 16, and rejoinder and concluding submissions concluding by April 22.

The Supreme Court has also asked all parties to file written submissions by March 14, marking the next procedural step as preparations continue.

Focus of the Review

The review case revolves around the 2018 Supreme Court judgment that struck down the centuries‑old ban on the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala hill‑top shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. That verdict allowed women between the ages of 10 and 50 — previously barred — to enter the temple, a decision that triggered widespread debate and protests across India.

Multiple review petitions challenging that verdict have been pending for years. Apart from the temple entry issue, the broader hearing may also consider related questions on discrimination against women at other religious places, which were referred to the large bench.

Government and Legal Positions

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Union government, told the Supreme Court that the Centre supports the review petitions questioning the 2018 verdict on women’s entry into the Sabarimala temple. Meanwhile, the bench has appointed senior advocates as amicus curiae and nodal counsels to assist in coordinating submissions from both sides.

Significance of the Hearings

The Supreme Court’s decision to schedule hearings before a nine‑judge Constitution Bench marks a crucial step toward addressing longstanding legal and constitutional questions that sit at the crossroads of gender rights and religious freedom. The outcome is likely to have wider implications on law, faith practices, and women’s rights in India.

This development reignites the national conversation on whether religious practices that traditionally limited women’s participation have should be reassessed under constitutional principles of equality and non‑discrimination.