NEW DELHI: No stay has been imposed in the Supreme Court verdict of September 28, 2018 permitting women of all ages in Sabarimala. As per reports, a bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi has directed to continue the present situation. The court in their observation said Sabarimala verdict is connected to entry of Muslim women in mosques and then left the case to a higher bench.

Religion is of great importance, the chief justice clarified. Sabarimala verdict is connected to Muslim women’s entry in mosques and so it should be considered by a higher bench. Along with the chief justice, Justice Indu Malhotra and Justice Khanwilkar referred to a higher bench. However, Rohinton Nariman and D Y Chandrachud opposed referring the issue to a higher bench. They wanted the review pleas to be rejected.

A bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Mishra had on September 28 in 2018 pronounced the verdict allowing menstrual women to enter the famous Ayyappa Temple. However Indu Malhotra, the lone woman judge of the constitution bench opposed the verdict. Her main observation was that beliefs are purely personal and the courts need not interfere in it. When re-examination files were considered, apart from Indu Malhotra, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Khanwilkar clarified that religion is also of great importance.