Big news: Women can enter inner sanctum of Haji Ali Dargah

There is some great news. The Bombay High Court has said that women will be allowed entry into the inner sanctum of the Haji Ali Dargah at par with men. It stays that the onus of safety of female worshippers would have to be taken care of by the state as well as the Dargah trust.

Will visit #HajiAli Dargah on Sunday: Bhumata Ranragini Brigade chief Trupti Desai https://t.co/cgJShVOual pic.twitter.com/4YMIrhujzJ

— rediff (@RediffNews) August 26, 2016

The judgement came through after the High Court considered its decision basis a (PIL) filed by Noor Jahan by many women petitioners of the Bharatiya Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan in November 2014, The Hindu reports,  asking the court to lift restrictions imposed on entry of women in the dargah by the Haji Ali in Central Mumbai. However, the bench granted a stay on the order for six weeks on a plea by the Trust, which wanted to go on appeal in the Supreme Court. The Haji Ali Dargah Trust however is ready to appeal against the order in the Supreme Court, and has submitted a plea to the HC. In response the stay had been granted on the order.

“This is a great step towards justice for Muslim women,” Zakia Soman, a petitioner in the case told ANI. Trupti Desai, an activist who has led a similar movement in the Shani Shingnapur temple, welcomed the verdict and called it ‘historic.’

It’s a very good and logical judgement: UP's first woman qazi Hina Zaheer on Haji Ali Dargah case pic.twitter.com/3S7pQQFPTm

— ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2016

Not charity.Right to pray-constitutional right. Other places of worship that need to emulate: Brinda Adige, activist pic.twitter.com/aIM6kngQFw

— ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2016

Haji Ali dargah verdict: The ban was imposed in 2012 by the Haji Ali Dargah Trust citing religions traditions