The Supreme Court has questioned the basis of a 2006 public interest litigation (PIL) that led to its landmark 2018 ruling allowing women of all ages into Kerala's Sabarimala temple.
A nine-judge constitution bench expressed strong reservations about the petition, stating that it 'ought not to have been entertained at all' and that the material on record should have been 'thrown in the dustbin'.
The court criticized the petition for weak evidence, including reliance on newspaper reports and unverified material.
Judges also questioned the motive behind the PIL, with Justice Nagarathna stating that it had become 'private, publicity, paisa and political interest litigation'.
The bench expressed concerns over the limits of religious freedom claims, with Justice Nagarathna remarking that 'someone who says they will break all norms cannot be encouraged'.
