'Courts lack jurisdiction, expertise on religion': Centre questions reliance on 'constitutional morality' in Sabarimala, LGBT judgments

Parmod KumarNew Delhi, April 8 -- The Centre on Wednesday told a nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court that courts do not have the jurisdiction or the knowledge and understanding of religion to decide issues arising from religious beliefs, practices and even superstition, while strongly questioning reliance on the "vague" concept of "constitutional morality" in deciding such matters.

Appearing for the union government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that questions of social reform in religion must be left to the legislature, and the judiciary should adopt a hands-off approach.

"The courts do not have jurisdiction or knowledge of religion to decide such issues. At best, every one of us has some knowledge of religion, bu...