Courts cannot reform faith, says SC in Sabarimala review

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (April 29, 2026) said courts cannot herald reform in religion even as senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for two women who made history by entering the Sabarimala temple in Kerala to enforce their right to worship under a 2018 top court verdict, said religion must mend to remain relevant.

Appearing before a nine-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Ms. Jaising opened submissions for respondents supporting the 2018 verdict, which upheld the right of menstruating women aged between 10 and 50 to enter and pray at the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala.