April 8th Current Affairs

 Supreme Court Hearing

• A 9-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court is currently hearing the Sabarimala case.
• Focus is NOT directly reviewing 2018 judgment, but examining constitutional questions like:
  • Religious freedom
  • Equality
  • Role of courts in religion

 Key Observation on Women

• Justice B.V. Nagarathna said:
  • Women cannot be treated as “untouchable” for a few days (during menstruation).
• This strongly supports gender equality.

 Concept of “Public Morality”        

• Court said:
  • Morality changes with time
  • What was considered wrong earlier may not be wrong now
• Important for exams:
   “Public morality is dynamic, not static”

 Centre’s Stand

• Central Government argued:
  • 2018 Sabarimala judgment was wrong
• It said:
  • Restrictions were based on tradition, not discrimination
  • Courts should not interfere too much in religion

 Court vs Government Debate

• Supreme Court said:
  • It has power to examine superstition in religion
• Government argued:
  • Courts should not decide religious practices

 This creates a major constitutional conflict:

• Judicial review vs Religious freedom

 Background

• In 2018 Supreme Court judgment:
  • Women of all ages were allowed entry into Sabarimala temple
  • Earlier: Women (10–50 years) were restricted

 Current Status

• Case is still under hearing (no final judgment yet)
• Final decision will impact:
  • Women’s rights
  • Religious practices in India

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable (often reported as Endangered in some sources → revise both carefully)
• Indian Law:

Protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
 Same level as tiger → highest protection