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Pooja Kriplani, pursuing BBA LL.B. (Hons.) from Amity University, Rajasthan.
Date: 02.12.2020
ANALYSIS OF SABRIMALA CASE
Introduction
In the case, the Sabrimala judgment case is a
controversy between fundamental rights and religious that tattoos of women in
Indian society. Always considered that then of man due to domination of
patriarchal philosophy and women had to fight and struggle to action their
position equally as a man at various public platforms. In the case, Sabrimala
is also an example of women fighting against the Patriarchal philosophy of religious
order prohibiting their entry to the temple. The constitution of India
guarantees the right of freedom of religion for every individual and group
under article 25 of article 26[1].
Where every person is free to practice propagate and process and religion of
and his choice no ever article 15 of the constitution prohibits the state from
discrimination against any Citizen on the ground of religion, race, caste, and
sex.
In this case, the petition was filed by the
association lawyer under article 32 of the Constitution against the Government
of Kerala, In this case, chief Thanthri of Sabrimala temple and District
Magistrate of pathname temple to allow the entry of women between the age of 10
years to 50 years in the Sabrimala Temple. In Kerala, these women were denied
entry into the temple, and the rules 3(b) of the Kerala Hindu place of public
worship authorization of entry rules 1965 Rules in providing with the power
confirmed by section 4 of the Kerala Hindu place of public worship Association
of entry Act 1965.
Respondent argument
The respondents, on the other hand, defended
that the constitution also grants to every religious denomination the right to
determine its own rules and stated the primary reason for not allowing the
entry of women to the temple as the naisthika brahmacharya nature of the deity
Lord Ayyapan[2]. It was
claimed that the presence of women questioned the purity and sanctity of the
deity and also it distracts the devotees. The Court dismissed the reason on the
ground of equality and perpetuation of stereotypes in society. It was of the
view that both men and women are equal and no one should be discriminated
against or restricted in any form. The ideology is considered of purity and
pollution of the temple authorities for not letting the menstruating women
enter the temple was clearly violet the article 17 which talks about the
abolition of Untouchability in any form.
The Supreme Court took into consideration the
Essential Practices Test which has been consistently used by the courts from
time to time. It empowers the court to determine whether a religious practice
is an ‘essential practice’ or not as per the notions and beliefs of that
religious community. This was observed by the Supreme court in 1954 in the case
of The Commissioner, Hindu Religious Endowments, Madras v Shri Lakshmindra
Thirtha,[3]
Swamiyar of Shri Shirur Mutt. The test lays down that what constitutes an
essential part of religion will be ascertained concerning the tenets and
doctrines of that religion itself.
Related case
They were collectively referred to as Rama
Krishna Matt or Rama Krishna Mission. Similarly, to the question of whether
Sabarimala is a denomination, the institution satisfies the conditions to
recognize itself as a denomination. the Supreme Court while interpreting this
Right of a religious denomination.
In the case of D. R. R Varu v. State of
Andhra Pradesh[4] has
explicitly noted that only the denomination should have the autonomy to manage
its religious affairs and infringement of which would lead to violation of the
right under Article 26(d) of the Constitution of India. A perusal of the case
H. R. & C. E., Madras v. Sree Lakshmindra Thirtha Swamiar of Sri Shiruru
Mutt5[5],
the court elaborated on the fact that religion may not only prescribe the
ethical conduct for worship but also can prescribe other rituals, modes of
worship, and observances for the people seeking entry into the place of worship
In another case of Mohd Hanif Qureshi v. the
State of Bihar[6], the
Qureshi Muslims of Bihar petitioned to the Supreme Court challenging the ban on
cow slaughter on the ground that it infringed on their fundamental right to
religion as they were compelled by their religion to sacrifice cows on Bakrid.
The court looks Islamic religious texts; found that there was no evidence to
show that sacrifice of cows on Bakrid was essential practice for the Qureshi
Muslims.
Thus, there have been several; cases where
the court had distinguished between the practices of religion and mere
adornments to it. Court by giving decision could be seen distinguishing between
religious practices and superstitious beliefs. The case of Sabrimala become one
of the examples such example where the Supreme Court determined and drew a
parallel between Right to Religion and Right to Equality as the basic
fundamental rights given by the Constitution of India and through its judgment
uplifted the ban which was imposed on women from entering the temple.
Majority judges: Grounds
The majority of judges ruled in favour of
petitioner and therefore are allowed the entry of all women of all ages into
the Sabrimala Temple. They were of the opinion that this practice was a
discriminatory and therefore should not be allowed to prevail any further, The
dualism that persist in religion by glory fine and when you waiting women as
god bless on one hand and by imposing rigorous action on the other hand in
matter of devotion has to be a bond owned by relationship with the creator is a
trans and Dental one crossing all to society created artificial barriers and
not a negotiated relationship bound by the terms and condition such a
relationship and expression of devotion cannot be comes scribed by dogmatic
notion of biological or psychological factors arising out of rigid social
culture attitude which do not meet the constitutionality proscribe test.
The provision of section 4(1)
Provision of section 4(1)[7]
create a exception to the effect that 95 the regulation rules made under
section for class one shall not discriminate in any manner, whosoever against
any Hindu on the ground that he she belonged to a particular section of class.
Applicability of Article 17 of the
constitution
The social exclusion of women based on
menstrual status is a form of untouchability which is an and nothing to
constitutional values nations of purity and pollution with stick mate ise
individual have no place in a constitutional order.
Article
25 right to freely practice religion
Rule 3
(B) of the 1965[8] rule
violate the light of Hindu women to freely practice their religion and exhibit
their devotion towards Laut Aaye Ayyappa Daniel D nude them of their right to
worship the right to practice religion under article 25(1) is equally available
to both men and women of all age groups were facing the same religion.
Religious Denomination
In the view of the law laid down by the court
in three rules and SP Mittal the devotees of Lord Ayyappa do not constitute a
separate religious denomination they do not have common religious 3 and
specular to themselves which they regarded as a during to their spiritual
well-being other than those which are common to Hindu religion therefore the
devoted 92 Lord Ayyappa our exclusive Hindu and do not constitute a separate
religious denomination.
Justice Indu Malhotra judgement
Justice Indu Malhotra gave a separate and
dissenting judgement in this case she accepted the argument of respondent and
deliver her judgement in their favour, The summary of the judgement is as
follows the writ petition does not deserve to be entertained for standing the
grievance raised are non-justifiable at the behest of the petitioner and
intervention was involved herein.
The equality Doctrine enshrined under article
14 does not override the fundamental rights guaranteed by the article 25 of
Indian constitution to every individual to relieve process practice and
propagate their faith in accordance with the tenants of their religious,
Constitutional morality in a secular polity would imply the harmonious station
of fundamental right which include the right of every individual religious
denomination or left the practice their faith and belief in accordance with the
tenants of religion in respect of whether the practice is national or logical.
The limit restriction on the entry of women
during the notified 8 group does not fall within the provision of Article 17 of
the constitution’s rule 3 (B) of the 1965 rule is not Ultra vires section 3 of
1965 Act,[9] Since the provision of curves out an
exception in the case of public worship in a temple for the benefit of any
religious denomination of that they’re of to manage their affairs in matter of
religion in light of a force a discussion and analysis the writ petition cannot
be entertained on the ground enumerator
herein above.
Judgment of case
The judgement of Sabrimala record for the
battles between the religious believe practices and notion of equality for
every citizen the Sabrimala decision is hold and empathetic and the kind there
are different notions of morality custom and religions but from this case the
supreme court highlighted the highest notion of morality that is Constitutional
morality in the era of 21st century we are one hand we talk about development
grow prosperity Global leader and world power on the other hand you still tied
with the chain of our deep rooted conversation ideology of certain customs
please and hands well as a society and as a nation.
In this case Supreme Court are fledged after
the verdict, many changes many gender-specific would be seen in the
infrastructure of Temple premises moreover only be pronouncing the word it
would not ensure its applicability at ground level the code need to make sure
about the happening at ground level and need to ensure that the women are not
denied entry Sabrimala is not the only temple where discrimination exist on the
ground of religious believe but there are many other temples in the country
where men or not allowed , This but it has opened the floor of Supreme Court as
analyse whether the Judiciary net point events in this aspect as well as this practice
also discriminating.
Analysing Sabrimala Temple Case
By analysing I will find out that I am
disagree with the dissenting opinion of justice Indu Malhotra in the Sabrimala
Temple case according to her it was an issue involving the religious sentiments
and practice of the people and the court should not interfere with it but when
we look at the view taken by the court in other similar case like shayara Bano
vs Union of India[10]
judgement where in the practice of instant triple talaq
was declared to be unconstitutional it become
quite lucid that a fundamental right prevail over other custom and practices
because they are basic right guarantee to all citizen of the India by the
constitution of India and cannot be taken away by such custom. will we strive
to abolished Sati untouchability and many other discriminatory practices
prevail in the society to ensure equal treatment to all that custom and
practices that make and reasonable classification between two classes of
citizen should also be abolished in order to provide equal rights to all
citizen and strength and gender equality the practice prevailing in the
Sabrimala temple of not allowing women between the age of 10 to 50 years is
based upon a myth and therefore is unjust and baseless everybody has an equal
right to prayer and the patriarchy prevail in the society should not be given
the power to in switch this right, I am agree with the judgement of the
majority judges in the case and support every ground on which there this
judgement is based upon
[1] 25 of
article 26 of constitution
[2] As the
naisthika brahmacharya nature of the deity Lord Ayyapan
[3] Madras v
Shri Lakshmindra Thirtha,
[4] D. R. R
Varu v. State of Andhra Pradesh
[5] H. R.
& C. E., Madras v. Sree Lakshmindra Thirtha Swamiar of Sri Shiruru Mutt5
[6] Mohd
Hanif Qureshi v. the State of Bihar,
[7] Provision
of section 4(1)
[8] Rule 3
(B) of the 1965
[9] Article
17 of the constitution’s rule 3 (B) of the 1965 rule is not Ultra vires section
3 of 1965 Act,
[10] shayara
Bano vs Union of India
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