Bombay HC paves way for women's entry to Shani Shingnapur Temple

 

Mumbai, April 1 In a ruling with far-reaching implications, the Bombay High Court on Friday declared that no law prevents women from entering places of worship and there should be no gender discrimination as far as entering one is concerned.

The verdict by a division bench of Chief Justice D.H. Waghela and Justice M.S.Sonak of Bombay High Court came in a public interest litigation filed by activists Vidya Bal and senior lawyer Nilima Varta challenging the age-old tradition prohibiting entry to women to the sanctum sanctorum of the world-famous Shani Shingnapur Temple in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district.

Expressing "happiness" over the court verdict, women's activist organisation Bhumata Ranragini Brigade President Trupti Desai said she would lead a group of women to the temple on Saturday and pray at the sancturm sanctorum from where they have been barred for centuries.