Sabarimala Reference Hearing Updates: Can’t encourage person saying I will break all rules and enter, says Justice Nagarathna
The Supreme Court said that those who have full faith and belief in the lord will follow what is required for the performance of worship.
by Richa Sahay, Jagriti Rai · The Indian Express · JoinSabarimala Reference Hearing From Supreme Court Today Live Updates: The Supreme Court today has rapped the Young Lawyers Association, advising them to work for the welfare of the bar and the younger members.
The apex court questioned the objective of filing the present PIL from the counsel of the Young Lawyer Association and also asked if the deity has a belief or conscience.
Story continues below this ad
“Now, we want to know why you filed this PIL at all? What was it that you wanted to achieve? What does it come out of it?” Justice Nagarathna added.
The apex court has continued hearing the Sabarimala case. This is the eleventh day of this hearing.
The case concerns the discrimination against women in religious places, including the Sabarimala temple, and the scope of religious freedom under the Constitution.
What happened in the last hearing?
Previously, the Supreme Court was hearing the submission of senior advocate Jaising, who also noted that Shabari was a woman who offered berries to Shri Ram.
She concluded last day’s submission saying,” I am also a Shabari. You are keeping me out. That is the end of the story.”
Previously, the Supreme Court also talked about the uniqueness of our nation, which is that “diversity” is our strength.
“We are strong because we are diverse, and diversity is our strength, and to bring about a recognition of the diversity in denominations, Article 26 (b) protects it. By giving such protection, there is also a unity developed in the country,” the court added.
Justice Nagarathna previously questioned how a person in north India can claim the right of entry to a temple in the south when senior advocate Indira Jaising was arguing that the exclusion of women aged 10–50 violates.
The Supreme Court, on day 9 of the hearing, previously clarified that the state can “step in” when religious activities affect public order, such as blocking roads, noting that such acts cannot be justified as part of religious practice. It further observed that while autonomy in matters of worship is protected, only activities of a religious nature fall within that protection.
“Apart from that, if a secular activity is also getting affected, then the state can step in. There has to be a balance,” Justice Nagarathna said.
On the eighth day of the hearing, the Supreme Court cautioned on sharing information from “WhatsApp university” when one th counsels, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, cited the words of politician Shashi Tharoor from an article published in The Indian Express-“When the gavel falls on matters of deep-seated belief, it must do so with an awareness of the limitations of legal logic.”
Justice Nagarathna responded with this caution when Kaul contended that there is never any harm in all humility.
“If knowledge and wisdom come from any source, any country, any university, it should be welcome,” he added.
The Chief Justice of India then further added that the court respects all eminent persons, but personal opinions are “personal opinions”.
Nine-judge bench: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant will preside over the bench, which will include Justices B V Nagarathna, M M Sundresh, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, Augustine George Masih, Prasanna B Varale, R Mahadevan and Joymalya Bagchi.
Questions for consideration: There are seven questions for consideration before the court:
- What is the scope and ambit of the right to freedom of religion under Article 25 of the Constitution of India?
- What is the interplay between the rights of persons under Article 25 of the Constitution and the rights of religious denominations under Article 26?
- Whether the rights of a religious denomination under Article 26 of the Constitution are subject to other provisions of Part III of the Constitution, apart from public order, morality and health?
- What is the scope and extent of the word ‘morality’ under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, and whether it is meant to include constitutional morality?
- What is the scope and extent of judicial review of a religious practice under Article 25 of the Constitution?
- What is the meaning of the expression “Sections of Hindus” occurring in Article 25 (2) (b) of the Constitution?
- Whether a person not belonging to a religious denomination or religious group can question a practice of that religious denomination or religious group by filing a PIL?
Live Updates
May 5, 2026 01:23 PM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Khambata starts submission
Khambata: And I would start by saying that we're all trying to resolve a problem which effects all of us in our whole country. Therefore, it should be a collaborative effort rather than a confrontation. I would immediately say that every view that has been expressed, but I want to agree with it or it doesn't agree with it, is sincere and qualified it towards that it.
May 5, 2026 01:19 PM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Khambata starts submission
Senior advocate Darius Khambata is submitting his plea. He is representing a Parsi woman married to a Hindu man.
May 5, 2026 01:18 PM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Gupta concludes submission
Advocate Gupta concluded his submission.
May 5, 2026 01:17 PM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Bench on PIL
Justice Nagarathna: Public interest litigation has now become private interest litigation, publicity interest litigation, paisa (money) interest litigation and political interest litigation.
May 5, 2026 01:16 PM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Gupta on PIL
Gupta: One thing is that PIL is not an adversary litigation. If you are interested in any subject, you cannot…you have to be disinterested. Otherwise, the court will say you have got the pecuniary advent you could be interested in this particular subject.
May 5, 2026 01:07 PM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Bench on PIL
Justice Nagarathna: CJI receives 100s of letters every day. Can all those be converted into PILs?
May 5, 2026 01:05 PM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Bench on PIL
CJI: We are only on talking about the locus which is generated on the basis of a news item regarding a criminal misconduct committed by someone. The court should have taken suo moto directly day to day trial. Make sure that if he is guilty of this offence, the law must. Take care of it. That’s all. How does this article give you a cause of action to wake up the issue, ultimately, which is adjudicated?
Justice Nagarthana: It is easy to get articles written for the sake of filing PIL. We are very much aware... we have entertained PIL when we were in the High Court. We are entertaining PILs here for genuine causes..for getting relief to the public, who are in really need of it. Not for articles being written in the newspapers, which are the basis of PILs entertained by these courts.
May 5, 2026 12:57 PM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Counsel and his first PIL
Gupta: Coming to the issue, how the PIL has developed. I am the first lawyer to file the first PIL in the field of the environment.
CJI: Your best argument, Mr Gupta that it was a defecto suo moto petition and filed by.. association, and I think that’s all your PIL.
Justice Nagarathna: I think you should understand the realistic assessment made by my lord, Chief Justice, on this case, please realise it.
CJI: So, there is the article upon which you relied, and we entertain a PIL based upon this kind of document, which should have been thrown out rightly in the dustbin.
May 5, 2026 12:48 PM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Counsel on his purpose
Gupta: I also got the life-threatening. I did not bother. Giving my life for this purpose, I do not mind.
May 5, 2026 12:40 PM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Bench on Lord Ayyappa
CJI: We understand your argument that Lord Ayyappa has been made to believe to be a brahmachari not by any religious practice but at the asking of some astrologer.
May 5, 2026 12:28 PM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Bench on faith and belief
Justice Nagarathna: Your case was, people who don't have faith and belief with that deity, allow them to enter.
Gupta: No. How your ladyship has come to this conclusion, I do not have the faith. No. I'm having full faith…therefore I am entering.
Justice Nagarathna: This is quite serious. A person who has full faith and belief in the lord or the deity, the goddess, will follow what is required for the performance of worship. If any such devotee is saying, “I will break all niyams (rules) and then I will enter such person cannot be encouraged by this court….We are on the question of belief, we are not on superstition. We are on the serious issue. Anybody saying who has faith and belief in a particular deity, lord, goddess, or even religion also, such a person will not say, I will break the niyams and this court must give me the support.
May 5, 2026 12:26 PM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Bench on faith and belief
Advocate Gupta: The next expression, belief. That's very important. Although this issue was not in Sabarimala case because what was there in entry point. Entry is not the belief. Your belief cannot be, “My belief is this, I will enter. You will not enter that.” This could not be. I don't agree with that.
Justice Nagarathna: So that means people who did not have any faith or belief in that lord want to enter the temple? That is your case?
Gupta: Will you take the undertaking before the entry of the temple?
May 5, 2026 12:21 PM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Counsel on Article 19, 21
Gupta: The constitution makers took care not to provide for the right to profess, practice, propagate religion in Article 19 (1) because rights under Article 19 (1) are limited to only citizens. Right under Article 21 (1) is available to every person.
May 5, 2026 12:20 PM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Bench says counsel has no knowledge of Sanskrit
Gupta is quoting the words of the Gita before the bench.
Gupta: What the Gita says, those in the mode of goodness, worship the celestial gods.. Those in the mode of passion, worship the yakshas and rakshas, those in the mode of ignorance worship ghosts and spirits..
CJI: Your entire translation is wrong. You have no knowledge of Sanskrit words, and you are wrongly translating and giving completely misleading words...misdirecting us..
May 5, 2026 12:11 PM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Bench says counsel have no knowledge of temple
Gupta: Suppose, if I erect a Khajuraho temple type of temple in my colony, and the…are objective to it, then this court cannot look into it, because it’s a part of the religion. So, where will we stand? Not only the Khajuraho temple, but also the Odisha temples.
CJI: Mr Gupta, we don’t want that religious debate here. If you do not know anything about a temple, we are looking for a temple. Please don’t argue, please don’t raise an argument for the sake of…You have no knowledge of the temples you are referring to; your knowledge is extremely poor, if you want us to quote. Don’t waste our time.
May 5, 2026 12:10 PM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Bench on significance of listening
Bench: When Rama threw the arrow through. He explains it gets him so fast and then pierce it and went away so fast. Like the same voice of a learned man to a man who does not want to listen. So he'll go, he'll come so far. He'll go so far. That's the explanation is given. It is just like that if you want us to listen, you have to listen to us also.
May 5, 2026 11:58 AM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Counsel on conclusive nature of Sabarimala case
Gupta: So far as Rule 3b of Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship Authorisation and Entry Rules, 1965 is concerned, it has been declared to be ultra…by the 5:1. This has also not been referred to any of the issues which it relates…so it is also conclusive. So the Sabarimala case cannot be touched, whatever may be the difference, whatever may be the adjustment, the Sabarimala case cannot be referred to. It cannot be reopened. It is final and conclusive, and, your lordship, has to be implement that particular order despite all the public protests.
May 5, 2026 11:53 AM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Counsel on religious denominations
Gupta: So far as Sabarimala is a religious denomination or not, that has been conclusively decided by 4:2, and it cannot be opened. Why? Because there was no such issue referred to your lordships. Even what are the essential ingredients of constituting the religious denominations that will also not be discussed by your lordships. Some have tried to address those issues, but this is not the issue here.
May 5, 2026 11:37 AM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Counsel and his faith
Gupta: Lord Ayyappa was a Buddhist, and it has been admitted by the state of…
Justice Aravind Kumar: You are saying you are a believer… You are saying you are having faith, and now you say, no Lord Ayyappa himself was someone else. What is this?
Gupta: What you cannot achieve directly, you cannot achieve indirectly. You want the Sabrimala to be reviewed, but you don’t want to say because you could not find a single error in that judgment.
May 5, 2026 11:34 AM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Justice Nagarathna on objective of PIL
Justice Nagarathna: Now, we want to know why you filed this PIL at all? What was it that you wanted to achieve? What does it come out of it?
Gupta: These were raised at the time of the admission of the writ petition. It was before the two judges' bench, then it was referred to the three judges' bench, then it was referred to the constitution bench, and it is before the nine judges' bench. So, it has taken a long distance, it has travelled a long distance, and now, the next level before the nine judges bench, if you are asking the one issue, which is related to the division bench, at that moment, at the time of the…So, therefore, I am addressing one by one, just allow ma’am.
Gupta: I will not enter into any temple unless I go to the belief. For example, just 4km from here. There is a temple of Lord Hanuman where you have to offer a bottle of drinks. I don't know whether you..I do not enter. I don't want to offer a bottle of drink to Lord Hanuman, so I will not enter.
May 5, 2026 11:20 AM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Court on work of Young Lawyers Association
Counse: Firstly, I’m first a woman, then I'm a Hindu. Then I am any other thing? First, I'm a woman, and my womanhood has been attacked.
Justice Nagarathna: Young Lawyers Association has no other business? They can't work for the welfare of the bar or assist the bench for the legal system of this country?… these kind of work? …..work for the bar, work for younger members, work for their welfare.... Those who are struggling in the country from rural areas, they have difficulty coming to the cities to argue cases. They have brilliant minds. People have come from the villages, with different minds. They have no wherewithal, work for them. Rather than doing this time, in the Supreme Court.
May 5, 2026 11:17 AM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Court asking concern of counsel
Gupta: It is seen that the deity does not like young ladies entering the presence of the temple…. This is the belief? Is it in regard of Lord Ayyappa or an insult to Lord Ayyappa that the deity does not like the young ladies. This is not the belief. This could never be the belief.
Justice Nagarathna: How are you concerned with all this? Tell us.
Gupta: I’m concerned. I will be..
CJI: Are you the chief minister of the country?
May 5, 2026 11:14 AM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Counsel on his prayer
Gupta: We see the main thing is that this is an entire area of prayer. I'm not challenging any faith rather, I will repose of it. Therefore, we are seeking entry...if we want to enter into any temple, why are we entering into that..
CJI: How do you reconcile?
May 5, 2026 11:11 AM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Counsel clarifying his plea
Advocate Gupta: There is some problem here. The problem here is this...every time this is being alleged, if I am challenging the faith of the other..I'm not challenging...
May 5, 2026 10:59 AM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Counsel submitting his plea
The counsel is arguing on behalf of the All Indian Young Lawyers Association and referring to the judgments of the Kerala High Court.
Advocate Gupta: I want to make some clarifications.
May 5, 2026 10:51 AM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Counsel submitting his plea
Counsel has started his submission.
May 5, 2026 10:47 AM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Nine-judge bench resumed hearing
A nine-judge bench resumed the Day 11 hearing of the Sabarimala reference.
May 5, 2026 10:45 AM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Nine-judge bench to resume hearing
On the last day of the hearing, senior advocate Indira Jaising pointed out that the apex court has not stayed the Sabarimala judgment till today, and it remains in full force and effect.
May 5, 2026 10:18 AM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Nine-judge bench to resume hearing
Senior advocate Indira Jaising completed her submission last day.
May 5, 2026 10:17 AM IST
Supreme Court Hearing on Sabarimala Women Entry Live Updates: Nine-judge bench to resume hearing
A nine-judge bench will shortly resume the Day 11 hearing of the Sabarimala reference.
Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments