CJI Misra set to deliver 10 key judgments in last 20 days

On July 20, a three-judge special bench reserved its verdict after Muslim parties demanded a reconsideration of the 1994 M Ismail Farooqui judgement holding a mosque is not integral to Islam. If the bench rules in favour of the Muslim parties then the matter will be referred to a larger bench of seven judges.

To be sure, this will not be the first time there is a flurry of judgements ahead of the retirement of a CJI. Still, experts point out that some of the judgements delivered over the next 20 days will have far-reaching consequences.

“The next few weeks are going to be very important for the country. The top court is set to adjudicate on many contentious issues that will determine not just the polity but also settle contentious social issues one way or other,” said senior advocate Gyanant Singh. “It’s an unprecedented situation that so many judgments with far reaching impact will be delivered,” he said.

Then there’s the question of whether women of a certain age group can be barred from entering the Sabarimala temple. A constitution bench led by CJI Misra has reserved its order on this issue after an NGO approached it questioning the prohibition. During the hearing the court observed that the practice was based on the “patriarchal” belief that a man’s dominant status in the society makes him capable of austerity.

Petitions dealing with another outdated penal law dealing with adultery are also awaiting a final decision from the top court.

The NDA government’s plea to review a 2006 judgement that restricts reservation in promotion in government jobs for SC/ST is also awaiting a verdict