MUMBAI/ AMN
The Bombay High Court today lifted the ban imposed on women from entering the sanctum sanctorum of Haji Ali dargah in Mumbai, saying it contravenes the fundamental rights of a person.
It further ordered the state government and the Haji Ali Dargah Trust to take proper steps to ensure safety and security of women entering the dargah.
The court has, however, stayed its order for six weeks following a plea by Haji Ali Dargah Trust, which wants to challenge it in the Supreme Court.
Women were banned inside the inner shrine of the dargah in 2012 after Dargah Trust imposed a ban citing religious traditions as the reason.
A division bench today ruled the ban imposed on women from entering the Haji Ali dargah is contrary to Articles 14, 15, 19 and 25 of the Constitution of India.
The bench allowed a PIL filed by Zakia Soman and Noorjehan Niaz and their NGO Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan in 2014, claiming the dargah’s trust implemented the ban in 2012, despite 12 of the 19 major dargahs in Mumbai allowing the entry of women in the inner sanctum.
Reacting to the verdict one of the petitioners Zakia Soman said she was very happy and this is a great step towards justice for Muslim women.
Activist Trupti Desai, president of the Bhumata Brigade said this is a historic decision and they welcome the HC order, a big win for women.
Desai had attempted to enter the dargah with a group of women in April 2016, but was stopped by the police.
Abdul Sattar Merchant, Chairman and Managing Trustee of Haji Ali Dargah Trust refused to comment on the issue and said soon a meeting of board of trustees would be called to decide on the matter and only then he would comment on it.