At Sabarimala Temple, rights vs religion collide -- here's a timeline - CNBC TV18

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

58% : Ban Struck Down: On September 28, 2018, a five-judge Constitution Bench by a 4:1 majority struck down the restriction, holding that Ayyappa devotees did not constitute a separate denomination, that Rule 3(b) was unconstitutional, and that exclusion based on menstruation violated equality, non-discrimination, and freedom of religion.
55% : Key Questions Raised: In 2016 and 2017, a three-judge bench referred the matter to a Constitution Bench, framing issues on whether exclusion based on biological factors amounted to discrimination, whether the practice was essential to religion, and how Articles 25 and 26 interact with equality and other fundamental rights.
52% : Court Backs Ban: In 1991, the Kerala High Court upheld the restriction, ruling that the prohibition on women aged 10 to 50 did not violate constitutional guarantees or existing law, relying on evidence from temple authorities and concluding that the practice was an essential religious custom rather than gender discrimination.
52% : And as of 2025-2026, a nine-judge bench continues to examine the balance between religious freedom, constitutional morality, and judicial review.
51% : SC Begins Hearing: A nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court, on April 7, began hearing review pleas on discrimination against women at religious places, including the Sabarimala Temple.

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