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Women can enter all temples, High Court tells Maharashtra government
In a ruling with far-reaching implications, the Bombay High Court on Friday declared that no law prevents women from entering places of worship and there should be no gender discrimination as far as entering one is concerned.
Mumbai: In a ruling with far-reaching implications, the Bombay High Court on Friday declared that no law prevents women from entering places of worship and there should be no gender discrimination as far as entering one is concerned.
The verdict by a division bench of Chief Justice D.H. Waghela and Justice M.S.Sonak came on PIL filed by activists Vidya Bal and senior lawyer Nilima Vartak challenging the age-old tradition prohibiting entry to women to the sanctum sanctorum of the world-famous Shani Shingnapur Temple in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district.
Disposing off the PIL, the judges also directed the Maharashtra government to take proactive steps to ensure compliance of the laws saying it is "the fundamental right of a woman" and must be protected. On its part, the state government informed the court that it was totally opposed to gender discrimination and it would scrupulously implement the Maharashtra Hindu Place of Worship (Entry Authorisation) Act, 1956, which stipulated six months jail for violators.
Acting Advocate General Rohit Deo informed the court that a suitable circular or directive will be issued to all the district collectors and superintendents of police to make them aware of the act. Directing the state home secretary to ensure due compliance and enforcement of the act, and issue directions to the district collectors and police chiefs, the judges accepted Deo's submission.
Vartak said that after the court's verdict, "women can enter any temple" and have the right to exercise their religious freedom. "It is unfortunate that we have to go to the court with a petition to enforce implementation of an act. Since a law is there, implementation also should be there," Vartak added.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today welcomed the Bombay High Court order directing the state government to take pro-active steps for ensuring compliance of law to prevent discrimination against women on entry to places of worship.
