Union Govt Seeks Reversal of 2018 Sabarimala Verdict – SG Tushar Mehta’s Arguments Before 9‑Judge Supreme Court Bench

Key Insight

Union Govt pushes Supreme Court to overturn Sabarimala gender‑equality verdict, sparking constitutional debate

Key Facts

1. The Union Government, through Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, asked the Supreme Court to revisit the 2018 Sabarimala verdict.
2. The 2018 judgment (by a 5‑judge bench) allowed women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala temple, invoking Articles 14, 25 and 21 of the Constitution.
3. The present hearing (April 2026) is before a 9‑judge Constitution Bench, the largest ever constituted for a single case.
4. The Government’s stand is that the 2018 order was "wrongly decided" and should be declared a wrong law.
5. Key constitutional provisions in contention: Article 14 (equality), Article 25 (freedom of religion), and Article 21 (right to life & personal liberty).
6. Sabarimala temple traditionally barred women aged 10‑50, citing the deity Lord Ayyappa’s celibate nature.

Background

The Sabarimala case sits at the intersection of gender equality, religious freedom and the State's role in regulating personal laws—core topics under Polity and Governance in the UPSC syllabus. The latest challenge reflects the ongoing tension between progressive constitutional interpretation and traditional religious practices.

Mains Angle

GS 2 (Polity) – Candidates can discuss the constitutional balance between equality and religious freedom, evaluating the merits of the Union Government’s plea to overturn a landmark judgment.