New Delhi, Nov 14: The Supreme Court will pronounce its verdict on three key cases today.
These include the Sabarimala and Rafale review petitions as well as a criminal contempt plea filed against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. After the historic verdict on the Ayodhya land dispute matter, CJI Ranjan Gogoi was left with four other important judgments before demitting office on November 17.
The apex court, on September 28, 2018, had lifted the ban that prevented women and girls between the age of 10 and 50 from entering the Ayyappa shrine and held that this centuries-old Hindu religious practice was illegal and unconstitutional. The opposition Congress party and the influential Nair Service Society (NSS), an outfit of the forward Nair community, had also vehemently objected to the Left government's decision to go ahead and implement the verdict.
Live updates:
11.07 am: The Supreme Court closes a contempt plea filed by BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for wrongly attributing to the court his “chowkidar chor hai” remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rafale case.
11.06 am: The Supreme Court says there’s no ground to order FIR into the Rafale deal.
11.05 am: Breaking: All the review pleas in Rafale case have been dismissed by Supreme Court.
10.54 am: "This is a victory for us. There is an admission that the earlier judgement should be scrapped. We are proud of the Supreme Court,"saysRahul Easwar, the activist, who had spearheaded the case against the September 28 judgment.
10.52 am: Petitions have sought to revive the debate about what's religion and essential religious practices, says CJI.
10.49 am: Supreme Court, by a majority of 3:2, has referred the review petitions to a larger constitution bench. Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and Justice DY Chandrachud gave dissent judgement.
10.48 am: Issues relating to conflict between Shirur Math and Dargah to be decided larger Bench including on essential religious practices and other aspects. Sabarimala review petitions to remain pending till the issue is decided by larger bench, says Supreme Court.
10.47 am: Breaking: The Supreme Court refers the review petitions against the verdict allowing entry of women of all age groups in the Sabarimala Temple to larger bench.
10.41 am: Supreme Court clarifies the right of women to enter mosques, Parsi women to enter fire temple are also connected matters. Dawoodi Bora Community also has similar issues, says the apex court.
10.39 am: Supreme Court says the entry of women into places of worship is not limited to this temple. It includes the issue of the entry of women into mosques.
10.38 am: Two sections of the same religion have the same rights. Pleas have sought to revive debates about religious practices, says CJI.
10.37 am: CJI Ranjan Gogoi to read out the verdict soon.
10.36 am: All five judges assemble for Sabarimala verdict in the Supreme Court.