The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that every religious institution must have established norms and there cannot be anarchy, as it heard a batch of petitions related to discrimination against women at religious places.
A five-judge Constitution bench, headed by the Chief Justice of India, made the observation while hearing arguments on the Sabarimala temple entry issue and other similar matters. The bench emphasized that religious practices cannot be arbitrary and must conform to constitutional principles.
The court noted that religious institutions are free to prescribe their own rules and regulations, but such norms must be reasonable and not discriminatory. The observation came in the context of petitions challenging the exclusion of women of certain age groups from entering religious shrines.
The Constitution bench is examining a series of petitions that raise questions about the extent to which religious practices can be regulated by the state. The court stressed that while religious freedom is guaranteed under the Constitution, it is not absolute and must yield to fundamental rights such as equality and non-discrimination.
The hearing is part of a larger debate on the balance between religious autonomy and constitutional morality. The bench is expected to lay down guidelines on the issue after hearing all parties.
