If Men Are Allowed in Place of Worship, Allow Women Also: Bombay HC

The debate over the issue in Maharashtra escalated after a woman last year tried to enter and offer prayers at the Shani Shingnapur temple, in ‘breach’ of the age-old practice of prohibiting entry of women
This had prompted the temple committee to suspend seven security men and the villagers to form purification rituals. Subsequently, the Bhumata brigade led by Trupti Desai had on January 26 launched a high-voltage campaign to breach the ban at the temple and vowed to carry on with its movement for gender justice.
In a boost to gender equality campaign, the Bombay High Court observed that if men are allowed in a place of worship then women should also be permitted as no law prevents them from doing so.
Justice Waghela said : “There is no law that prevents entry of women in any place. If you allow men then you should allow women also. 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.”