Supreme Court has agreed to listen to Haji Ali Dargah Trust's appeal challenging the High Court's decision allowing women to enter the inner sanctum of Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai.
Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) founders Noorjehan Fiaz and Zakia Soman had demanded the lift of ban on women entering the inner sanctum of the dargah in August. Further, Fiaz and Soman had petitioned the Bombay High Court.
Following this, Muslim women across Mumbai had demanded the same, calling the ban unconstitutional. It is to be noted that the discriminatory ban against women did not exist until March 2011.
After the Mumbai High Court ruled against the ban on August 26, Haji Ali Dargah Trust approached the Supreme Court, following which the apex court has agreed to hear the appeal. The Trust had held that the ban helped the Trust adhere to the Supreme Court order wherein strict directions have been issued to ensure that women face no sexual harassment at places of worship.
The trust had also called women's entry a "grievous sin." According to Islam, it is a sin for women to be in close proximity of a male Muslim saint's grave.
Trupti Desai, leader of Bhumata Brigade confidently opined that she expects the Supreme Court to stand up for women's equality. "I am not really worried as I'm sure the Constitution will emerge victorious again and women will win here as well," she told ANI on Tuesday, October 4.
