The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned the locus standi of the Indian Young Lawyers Association in the Sabarimala temple women entry case, with Chief Justice Surya Kant, heading a nine-judge bench, asking what the NGO's 'business' was in challenging the restriction on women of menstruating age entering the temple. The court's remarks came during hearings on review petitions against its 2018 verdict that struck down the ban.

The Chief Justice at one point asked the petitioners, 'Were you the Chief Minister of the country?'—a comment underscoring the court's scrutiny of the association's legal standing to bring the matter. The review proceedings are examining whether the 2018 judgment interfered with religious customs and whether a larger bench should reconsider the interpretation of essential religious practices.

The Indian Young Lawyers Association had originally filed the petition leading to the 2018 verdict, which held that the exclusion of women violated constitutional rights to equality and religion. The current review was prompted by claims that the earlier decision did not adequately account for the temple's unique religious character.

The nine-judge bench reserved its decision on the maintainability of the review petitions and will reconvene to determine whether the issues warrant a fresh hearing on the merits. Further arguments are scheduled for next week.