Sabarimala Reference : SG Urges SC To Consider Re-Framing The Issues As Lawyers Could Not Reach Consensus

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Monday told the CJI-led bench that the lawyers could not reach a consensus on the framing of issues to be considered by the 9-bench judges on the larger questions of faith and fundamental rights referred in the Sabarimala review case.The SG urged the bench to consider re-framing the issues, and handed over a draft containing suggestions.CJI said that the. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Monday told the CJI-led bench that the lawyers could not reach a consensus on the framing of issues to be considered by the 9-bench judges on the larger questions of faith and fundamental rights referred in the Sabarimala review case. On November 14, a 5-judge bench headed by the then CJI Ranjan Gogoi observed that certain issues in the Sabarimala review were common to the pending cases concerning women entry in Mosques, validity of the practice of Female Genital Mutilation among Dawoodi Bohra community and the right of Parsi women who had married outside community to enter Fire Temples. According to the November 14 order, the following are the issues, that 'could' arise for the consideration of larger bench : Regarding the interplay between the freedom of religion under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution and other provisions in Part III, particularly Article 14.