Supreme Court today extended the stay granted by Bombay High Court to facilitate an appeal against its decision to lift the ban on entry of women near the sanctum sanctorum of the famous Haji Ali Dargah, till 17 October when it will hear the matter.
However, during the brief hearing, a bench comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice AM Khanwilkar expressed hope that the Haji Ali Dargah Trust, which has challenged the high court judgement, "will take a stand which is progressive".
The court adjourned the matter at the request of senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam who appeared for the Trust.
“The order of the High Court granting stay on operation of its judgement to continue till the next date of hearing on17 October,” the bench said.
Subramaniam assured the bench that he was on a "progressive mission" and said all holy books and scriptures promoted equality and nothing which is regressive in character should be suggested.
The bench also remarked that:
...if you are not allowing both men and women to go beyond a point, there is no problem. But if you are allowing some to go beyond a point while others are not, it is a problem.
The bench, which recorded that an identical issue has been raised and was pending before the Supreme Court relating to the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, said "the problem is not only among Muslims, but among the Hindus also".
The counsel, appearing for a women's group which has challenged the practice of the Trust not to allow women near the sanctum sanctorum, submitted that the position was different before 2011 than what it is today.
The Trust moved the apex court challenging the Bombay High Court order lifting the ban on women from entering the sanctum sanctorum of the renowned Muslim shrine in South Bombay.
The High Court on 26 August had held that the ban imposed by the Trust on women contravened Articles 14, 15 and 25 of the Constitution and said women should be permitted to enter the sanctum sanctorum like men.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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