Strict legal action could be taken against those who restrict women from entering worship places in Maharashtra.
Maharashtra’s BJP-led state government declared to take the necessary steps in order to comply with the high court ruling through the Maharashtra Hindu Place of Worship (Entry Authorisation) Act.
The high court in Bombay, in a historic ruling, today stated that it is the fundamental right of woman to offer prayers and the fundamental duty of the government to protect her.
Maharashtra’s chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier said in support that the “Indian culture and the Hindu religion have always given women the right to worship.”
The court had earlier observed that women in the country should be given equal access to temples as there aren’t any existing laws to not bar their entry. A division bench headed by Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice M S Sonak made the observations during the hearing of a public litigation by senior advocate Nilima Vartak and activist Vidya Bal.
“There is no law that prevents entry of women in any place. If you allow men, then you should allow women also. If a male can go and pray before the deity then why not women? It is the state government’s duty to protect the rights of women,” Justice Waghela had observed.
The activists had challenged the restriction on women from entering the sanctum sanctorum of Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar district.
“After the court’s verdict, women can now enter any temple,” Nilma Vartak was quoted by ANI after the ruling on Friday.
