The Bombay High Court directed Maharashtra government to take pro-active steps for ensuring compliance of law to prevent discrimination against women on entry to places of worship, saying “it is the fundamental right of a woman” and the government should protect it.
The court, which disposed of a PIL challenging the bar on entry of women in the sanctum sanctorum of Shani Shingnapur temple in the state’s Ahmednagar district, said that it can only pass a general direction to the government and cannot go into individual and specific cases.
The Maharashtra government assured the High Court that it is completely against gender discrimination and the provisions of Maharashtra Hindu Place of Worship (Entry Authorisation) Act shall be scrupulously implemented.
“Secretary of Home Department, Maharashtra, will ensure due compliance and enforcement of the provisions of the Act, and in order to ensure that the policy and purpose of the Act is fully carried out, they (Home department) will issue directions to all superintendents of police and collectors in each district of Maharashtra,” a division bench of Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice M S Sonak said.
“The government shall take all necessary steps to implement the Act,” it further said.
“Ultimately it is the fundamental right of a woman and the government’s fundamental duty to protect their (women) right,” Chief Justice Waghela said.
The state’s acting Advocate General Rohit Deo, in a submission to the high court, said that a circular or a directive shall be issued to all district collectors and Superintendents of Police, making them aware of the provisions of the Act.
The accepted the government’s statement.
The government’s submission was made following high court’s rap to the government on Wednesday on the issue, during the hearing of a PIL challenging the prohibition of entry of women in the Shani Shingnapur temple.
“The acting Advocate General has assured the court that the state government is against gender discrimination and keeping in view Articles 14, 15 and 25 of the Constitution.
The government can take pro-active steps to ensure that the fundamental rights are fully realised and not allowed to be encroached upon by any authority,” he observed.
The high court further said that it can only pass a general direction to the government and cannot go into individual and specific cases.
The court said if any person has any grievance that the Act is not being implemented, then he or she can approach local authority with their complaint.
Under the Maharashtra Hindu Place of Worship (Entry Authorisation) Act, 1956, if any temple or person prohibits any person from entering a temple then he or she faces a six-month imprisonment.
The acting AG, however, clarified to HC that if a temple in the state does not allow any person, irrespective of their gender, inside the sanctum sanctorum, then this Act and its provisions will not be of any help.
“However, if a temple allows men in the sanctum sanctorum but prohibits women, then this Act and its provisions can be used,” Deo said.
Trupti Desai, the activist who led a woman brigade to enter the Trimbakeshwar temple, welcomed the Bombay High Court verdict. She said, “This is the victory of women. We will on Saturday go to the Shani temple to offer prayers.”
“We will meet the Prime Minister and request him to make a law to allow entry on women in all such temples where women are not allowed”, she added.
In a welcome and progressive move, the Maharashtra government has told the Bombay High Court that it is against gender discrimination in places of worship. The government added that it will strictly implement provisions of Maharashtra Hindu Place of Worship (Entry Authorisation) Act.
The Bombay High Court made the observations in reply to a PIL challenging the ban on entry of women in some temples. The state government said it will be making district authorities aware of the provisions of the Act.
