The Bombay High Court has sought the Maharashtra government’s opinion on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the decision of Haji Ali Trust to ban the entry of women in the sanctum sanctorum of the historic Durgah in Mumbai.
As the issue is sensitive, a bench headed by Justice VM Kanade asked Advocate General Srihari Aney to submit arguments on behalf of the state on 9 February.
The PIL had sought interim relief by way of allowing women into the sanctum sanctorum at the Durgah until the matter is finally decided by the court.
The state will be represented by the Advocate General in the case. However, he was at a hearing of another case on Wednesday. The case was thus posted for hearing on 9 February.
The move has come in the light of the Sabrimala temple of Kerala coming under the Supreme Court scanner for not allowing women inside the temple.
The HC had indicated last month that it would wait for the Supreme Court’s ruling on entry of women in Sabarimala temple in Kerala before deciding on the plea in the case of Haji Ali Durgah.
Also read: Sabarimala Isn’t the Only Temple That Bans the Entry of Women
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