Question: Which of the following court in a landmark verdict lifted the ban and ruled ‘Women be permitted to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the Haji Ali Dargah at par with men’?
(a) Madras High Court
(b) Calcutta High Court
(c) Bombay High Court
(d) Allahabad High Court
Ans: (c)
Related facts:
- On 26 August 2016 the Bombay High Court in a landmark verdict lifted the ban and ruled ‘Women be permitted to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the Haji Ali Dargah at par with men’.
- The court said that the ban order by the Trust contravened Article 14 (equality before law), 15 (prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth) and 25 (freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion) of the Constitution.
- The court issued the order on a PIL filed by Noorjehan Naiz and Zakia Soman, who are office bearers of the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan.
- It should be known that the entry into the sanctum sanctorum prior to 2011-2012, when the trustees imposed the restriction without any justification.
Reference:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/bombay-high-court-verdict-on-women-entering-haji-ali-dargah/article9035710.ece
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/bombay-high-court-allows-entry-of-muslim-women-at-haji-ali-dargah/