Five months after ordering the Maharashtra government to ensure that no woman is denied entry into the Shani Shingapur temple in Ahmednagar, the Bombay High Court has ruled that women cannot be barred from visiting the inner sanctum of the Haji Ali shrine in Mumbai.
On Friday, the Bombay High Court said that the ban imposed on women is contrary to the fundamental rights of a person as provided in Constitution, violating Article 14 (equality before the law), Article 15 (prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion) and Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty).
"Very happy, this is a great step towards justice for Muslim women," Zakia Soman, the co-petitioner in the case, told ANI. Hina Zaheer, the first woman qazi of Uttar Pradesh, called it a "good and logical judgement."
The Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, a Muslim women's rights group, moved the Bombay High Court after trustees of the 15th century shrine banned women from coming near the tomb of the male saint located inside the shrine complex.
The Bombay High Court, however, has stayed its order to revoke the ban for six weeks, following a plea by Haji Ali Dargah Trust which wants to challenge its ruling in the Supreme Court, PTI reported. "This is very wrong because seems like Court has taken step without knowing about Sharia law," Maulana Sajid Rashidi, a prominent cleric told ANI.
The Maharashtra government had also opposed the restrictions placed on women in the Haji Ali Dargah, arguing that the trustees had to revoke the ban unless they could show that it has some reference in the Quran.
"The state government and the Haji Ali Dargah Trust will have to take proper steps to ensure safety and security of women entering the dargah," said the two judge-bench of V.M. Kanade and R.M. Dere, PTI reported.
The Bombay High Court's decision today is a boost to the nationwide movement for women to gain access to those places of worship, which have excluded them for centuries.
In April, just days after the Shani Shingapur temple was forced to revoke its centuries-old ban on women, the Supreme Court questioned why the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala does not allow the entry of girls and women who are going through their menstrual cycles.
11 Questions Women Have About Their Periods
Why Is My Period Heavy?(01 of11)
Open Image ModalWhy Is My Period Too Light?(02 of11)
Open Image ModalUnlike extremely heavy periods, which can signal other health issues, light periods aren't as much of a concern. "The normal amount of bleeding is variable and ranges from light to heavy depending on the woman," Wong explains. As long as your periods are regularly occurring (every 23 to 35 days) there should be no concern. "If the amount of flow changes to become lighter it may represent a slight hormonal shift that is probably of no significance," Wong says. (credit:Piotr Marcinski via Getty Images)
Why Is My Period Late?(03 of11)
Open Image ModalWhy Is My Period Early?(04 of11)
Open Image ModalJust like late periods, early periods usually have a hormonal cause including stress, polycystic ovarian disease or thyroid hormone abnormality, says Wong.
And abnormal spotting or bleeding can also be mistaken for an earlier period — if you are concerned, check with your doctor. (credit:LuminaStock via Getty Images)
Why Is My Period Brownish In Colour?(05 of11)
Open Image ModalBrown coloured blood is common during the final days of your period. According to Wong, this is a result of the blood that has been settled in the uterus being expelled. (credit:gpointstudio via Getty Images)
Why Did I Miss My Period?(06 of11)
Open Image Modal"Missing a solitary period is likely from a temporary hormonal imbalance, usually caused by stress," says Wong. But birth control methods like the pill, patch, ring and IUD can also cause very light or non-existent bleeding.
If your periods become regular again after a missed period, then there should be no cause for alarm. However, if you regularly miss periods or have an irregular bleeding pattern, you could be experiencing hormonal issues caused by stress, abnormal thyroid levels, or polycystic disease.
As a reminder, if your period is irregular you should consult your doctor.
(credit:Marjan_Apostolovic via Getty Images)
Why Is My Period Lasting More Than Seven Days?(07 of11)
Open Image ModalPeriods can last anywhere between two and seven days, but anything more than this is considered a prolonged period.
"If you have periods lasting more than seven days on a regular basis, you should contact your doctor," says Wong.
Prolonged periods are often associated with heavy periods, and can lead to iron deficiency anemia that will affect your overall health.
(credit:gldburger via Getty Images)
Why Am I Getting My Period Twice, While On The Pill?(08 of11)
Open Image ModalAccording to Wong, this is actually a normal side effect of starting a new birth control pill, especially on that is low dose and is referred to as "break through bleeding."
If this is happening in the middle of the cycle, then it is likely hormonal and of no concern. But if it persists more than three months, Wong recommends seeing a doctor to adjust your medication and rule out other causes such as uterine/cervical polyps, and infection.
It is also advised to get an updated pap smear and cervical cancer screening in this scenario. (credit:SCIENCE SOURCE via Getty Images)
Why Did I Start Spotting Early?(09 of11)
Open Image ModalSpotting can be a side effect of being on a birth control pill, or using a copper IUD, Wong explains.
Spotting can be due to infections (STDs) and, or more concern, a sign of cervical cancer.
Harmless causes of vaginal spotting between periods can also include polyps on the cervix or a condition called "cervical ectropion," which are sensitive cells that protrude on the exposed surface of the cervix and are prone to infection and abrasions, Wong explains.
Your doctor should be able to detect both of these conditions during a pap smear.
(credit:Dorling Kindersley via Getty Images)
Why Am I Clotting?(10 of11)
Open Image Modal"Clotting can be a sign that your periods are very heavy," says Wong. (Check out the heavy periods section for more information). (credit:PhotoAlto/Odilon Dimier via Getty Images)
Why Am I Pooping A Lot More?(11 of11)
Open Image ModalDuring your period, the lining of your uterus produces a natural chemical called prostaglandins, Wong says. Prostaglandins causes small contractions of the uterus to help shed the lining during your period which can cause cramping. It also affects the intestines and can increase movement of the bowel, which results in more frequent bowel movements and sometimes, diarrhea. (credit:Vast Photography via Getty Images)