Supreme Court to hear 42 review petitions in Sabarimala Temple verdict: LIVE UPDATES here

Update at 3:46 PM: The Supreme Court agrees to hear the review petitions in open court on January 22. As the top court ordered no stay on the Sabarimala verdict, it stays in place. Therefore, as the SC is hearing the review petitions, the women will be allowed to enter the temple. 

Update at 3:20 PM: Hearing on the review petitions on Sabarimala commences in the CJI’s chamber

The Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear 42 review petitions seeking the recall of the earlier verdict which allowed women between the age of 10 to 50 years at the Sabarimala Temple for the first time in centuries. The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar, Rohinton Fali Nariman, DY Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra would hear the 42 petitions at 3 PM.

National Association of Ayyappa Devotees, Nair Service Society and 18 other organisations have moved review petitions seeking a recall of the earlier top court verdict.

In October, when Sabarimala had opened for the first time since the Supreme Court upheld women's right to pray, no women between 10-50 managed to make their way into the Temple, as large groups of protesters blocked their paths. On the first of the five days that the Temple was open, women making their way to the Pamba base camp were also attacked and faced intimidation, including a number of women reporters who had gone to cover the historic event. Over the subsequent days, despite being escorted by the police, women only managed to make it to the Temple gates, where they were blocked once again, and forced to return as the Temple priests moved to close the Temple and not allow anyone to enter. 

READ: Sabarimala: The Thousand Words Behind The Picture Of Pooja Prasanna Pleading With The Mob That Converged On Her

In a historic verdict on September 28, the Supreme Court ended the centuries old practice and allowed women of all ages to enter Sabarimala temple. The 4:1 judgment of the Supreme Court upheld women's right to worship. While terming the ban on women in the age group of 10 to 51 as religious patriarchy, former CJI Dipak Misra declared the act as unconstitutional and violative of fundamental rights.

"Historically women have been treated with inequality. Society has to undergo a perception shift. Any relationship with the creator is a transcendental one. Suppression of women on biological aspects cannot be given a seal of legitimacy. Patriarchy cannot overwhelm religion. Religion is a way of life. Biological or physiological reasons cannot be accepted in freedom of faith. Subversion of women on physiological factors cannot be allowed", he said.

READ: Sabarimala Verdict | HISTORIC: Supreme Court Allows Women Of All Ages To Enter The Temple

October 2, 2018, days after the Supreme Court's verdict, a colossal campaign was launched by numerous groups against women's entry into Sabarimala