India, Oct. 1 -- Justice BV Nagarathna has become the first judge on the nine-member constitution bench to start writing the judgment in the long-pending Sabarimala reference, setting the stage for a verdict that could redefine the Supreme Court's approach to religious freedom, judicial review and the "essential religious practices" doctrine.

The development assumes significance as Justice Nagarathna was the only woman judge on the bench that heard the 16-day marathon proceedings and had, during the hearings, expressed views on several of the core constitutional questions arising from the dispute, including the role of the essential religious practices test.

The nine-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant had reserved i...