On September 24, 2018, a bench of Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra, and justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud referred the FGM PIL to a constitution bench. This decision was taken after six months of extensive hearings, and immediately after the attorney general KK Venugopal asked for the matter to be referred to a larger bench, despite earlier opposing this prayer.      

According to the order, a five judge bench will have to be specially constituted and adjudicate if FGM/Khafz is an is an "essential and integral practice of the Bohra religious sect."

Read the full referral here>