SC asks women to be patient on Sabarimala entry

Using its “discretionary power”, the Supreme Court declined to pass any order on allowing women’s entry in Kerala's Sabarimala temple. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde emphasised that since the issue has now been referred to a larger bench of seven judges, the 2018 judgment letting women of all ages enter is not the final word on it. “The practice in Sabarimala is thousands of years old. Some issues in this country become explosive and this is one of those issues. Let us take a call when a larger bench sits. Police in a temple isn’t our idea,” it said. Senior advocate Indira Jaising also appeared in the matter for women rights activist Bindu, who was one of the first women who entered the sanctum sanctorum in January this year. The CJI retorted that the law might be in her favour but the reality is that the subject is very emotive. "Please be patient. The larger bench is yet to be set up. We are exercising our discretion in not passing any order today," said Justice Bobde. Jaising then requested the court to expedite the hearing of the reference, to which the CJI agreed.