Women can enter temples

The Bombay High Court has come out in favor of women’s right to worship. The court has observed that there is no law that can prevent women from entering a place of worship.

Background:

These observations by the court were made during the hearing of a public interest litigation petition challenging the prohibition of entry of women in the Shani Shingnapur Temple in Maharashtra.

• The petition seeks the entry of women not just into the temple, but also inside its sanctum sanctorum.
• The petition says that the prohibition is arbitrary, illegal and in violation of fundamental rights of citizens.

What the law says?

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.

Important observations made by the court:

• 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 and the government should give wide publicity to the Act and issue circulars, informing the general public at large about the Act and its provisions.