Overview
- The Constitution Bench will open hearings on April 7, with an initial phase from April 7–9 as part of a phased schedule set by the court.
- The reference bundles challenges beyond Sabarimala, including women’s access to mosques and Parsi fire temples and petitions targeting female genital mutilation.
- Kerala’s Opposition leader V. D. Satheesan demanded a revised state affidavit and a clear position on whether women of menstruating age should be allowed into the shrine.
- State Law Minister P. Rajeev said the issue is not a yes‑or‑no question and that the government will articulate a considered stand after examining the constitutional questions, noting an earlier scholars’ commission proposal the court did not adopt.
- Community organisations are divided, with NSS and SNDP urging deference to devotees and Kerala Pulayar Mahasabha calling for a pro‑equality stance, while in court the state’s counsel was reported as opposing the review and the Solicitor General Tushar Mehar supported it.