08/04/2026
Sabarimala Case:
Justice B.V. Nagarathna, the only woman judge in the Supreme Court, said that social evils cannot be treated as ‘essential religious practices’.
This statement came during the hearing related to the Sabarimala case, where women of menstruating age were allowed to enter the temple.
She added that if social evils are given a religious label, courts have the power to step in and separate religion from injustice.
On the other hand, the Union Government argued that religious reforms should be done by the legislature (Parliament), not the courts.
Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta also highlighted that the Constitution protects freedom of thought, belief, faith, and worship.
The Supreme Court is now trying to create a clear policy on how courts should deal with:
• Article 25 – Right to religious freedom
• Article 26 – Rights of religious groups to manage their own affairs
