Bombay HC to decide on entry of women to Haji Ali on Wednesday

TIL Desk/National/Mumbai-The Bombay High Court is set to pronounce its verdict in the matter pertaining to entry of women in to the inner sanctum of the Haji Ali Dargah on Wednesday.

A division bench of Justice V M Kanade and Justice Revati Mohite-Dhere, which had heard the petition filed by women activists Noorjehan Niaz and Zakia Soman, and NGO Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, had reserved its orders in the matter on June 9. The petitioners contended that women were permitted entry upto the grave (mazar) of the Muslim saint Sayyed Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari between 1865-2012.

Later, they contended that trustees denied women devotees access to the grave which tantamount to gender discrimination and violated their Constitutional rights. The judges had advised the petitioners to discuss and resolve the issues amicably with the shrine trustees, but that effort had failed.