9 judge SC bench to hear Sabarimala, Women's religious practices case on Jan 13

New Delhi, Jan. 8 -- The Supreme Court has constituted a new nine-judge bench to hear Sabarimala case. The new bench, headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, will comprise other judges including Justices R Banumathi, L Nageswara Rao, Ashok Bhushan, Mohan M Shantanagoudar, S Abdul Nazeer, R Subhash Reddy, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant. Notably, Justice Banumathi is the only women judge on the Bench.

Two judges, Justices RF Nariman and DY Chandrachud who ruled in favour of women's entry in Sabarimala case aren't part of the new bench and the woman judge, Justice Indu Malhotra, who ruled against women's entry, is also not part of the new bench either.

In 2018, the five-judge bench of the apex court had allowed women of all ages to enter Sabari...