Sabarimala Row: Nine-Judge Bench to Tackle Women's Rights, Personal Laws & Constitution

• A nine-judge Supreme Court bench will address critical questions on customary practices, personal laws, and fundamental rights, starting April 7, 2026.
• The bench will examine seven questions stemming from the Sabarimala review petitions, going beyond the temple entry issue to broader constitutional implications.
• The case will delve into conflicts between religious freedom and individual rights, particularly women's rights within religious communities.
• It aims to resolve long-standing issues like polygamy, child marriage under Muslim personal law, female genital mutilation, and Parsi women's exclusion.
• This adjudication could redefine the relationship between law, religion, and women's rights in India, potentially becoming a landmark decision for gender justice.

Key Questions Answered

What specific questions will the nine-judge bench address regarding personal laws?

The nine-judge bench will address whether personal laws can be tested against fundamental rights.

How did the Supreme Court invalidate triple talaq in the Shayara Bano case?

The Supreme Court invalidated triple talaq, also known as talaq-e-biddat, in the Shayara Bano case in 2017. The court declared this practice unconstitutional.

Why does Muslim personal law remain largely uncodified compared to Hindu law?

Muslim personal law remains largely uncodified because the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, mandates that matters of marriage, divorce, and inheritance be governed by Shariat law a